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East Express | July 2, 2024

A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Friends and neighbors,

While we prepare for upcoming holiday festivities, I would like to first take a moment to acknowledge the June 18 traffic accident where a visitor to our community lost his life. My thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr. Kenneth Pesonen and with the motorist, who has also been affected. 

I thank the Public Safety officers who quickly responded to this accident, providing medical assistance on scene and conducted a thorough investigation. As our community mourns this loss, I would like to remind motorists, pedestrians and cyclists of our shared responsibilities in ensuring roadway safety for all.  

You can learn more about all the actions the City continues to take to promote roadway safety here. 

Please join me at one of my upcoming Coffee Talks 9 a.m. July 13 at Bagel Kitchen, 2228 Wealthy St. SE, 4:30 p.m. July 17 at Carolina Lowcountry Kitchen, 2212 Wealthy St. SE, and 11 a.m. July 26 at Bagel Kitchen. I am also available to meet with residents during weekday office hours and on weekends. If you have questions or would like to discuss something, please contact me by email or call 616.949.2110, ext. 887 to schedule a meeting.

I hope to see you at our annual Fourth of July Celebration, taking place all day Thursday. The festivities will begin with the Reeds Lake Trail Blazer 5k Run/Walk, which benefits the East Grand Rapids Community Foundation. The Foundation has been instrumental in supporting various community projects including the Reeds Lake trails, Public Safety AED purchase and the recent EGR After Dark event. 

Our annual parade will begin at noon, followed by various all-ages entertainment and food trucks at John Collins Park. The evening will conclude with the Full Cord concert and fireworks show over Reeds Lake. If you happen to see Parks and Rec staff throughout the day, be sure to thank them for their hard work to make this beloved tradition possible!

Wishing you a happy and safe Fourth of July,

Katie

PARKS & RECREATION 

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Join us for our annual Fourth of July Celebration made possible by title sponsor Corewell Health and support from the East Grand Rapids Community Foundation.

Enjoy all-ages entertainment and activities at John Collins Park, including a concert and fireworks show later in the evening. 

The day’s schedule of events is:

• 8:30 a.m. – Reeds Lake Trail Blazer 5k Run/Walk
• Noon – Parade
• 1-3:30 p.m. – Kids inflatables, food trucks and water ski show by Grand City Show Skiers
• 8 p.m. to sundown – Full Cord concert
• Dusk – Fireworks over Reeds Lake

The parade will begin at the intersection of Sherman Street SE and Wealthy Street and continue east on Wealthy, turning left on Lakeside Drive and ending at Reeds Lake Boulevard. 

After the parade, community members are invited to John Collins Park, 650 Lakeside Drive, for various activities, including kid’s inflatables, a water ski show by Grand City Show Skiers and a performance by bluegrass group Full Cord. Food trucks offering a variety of cuisines and treats will line Lakeside Drive throughout the afternoon.

The festivities will culminate with a fireworks show over Reeds Lake at sundown. Those attending the show are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs.

PLAN AHEAD: ROAD, BOAT LAUNCH AND PARKING CLOSURES

• The boat launch will be closed 8:15-9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and 8 p.m.-11 p.m. on July 4.
• The high school parking lot and Memorial Field will be closed and locked.
• The parade will begin at the intersection of Sherman Street and Wealthy Street and continue east on Wealthy Street, turning left on Lakeside Drive and ending at Reeds Lake Boulevard. There is no parking on Lakeside Drive, from the EGR Crew boathouse down to Rose's, and Wealthy Street during the parade. Check out the complete route here.
• Be mindful of the firework danger zone and road closure pictured in the map above. Unauthorized individuals will not be allowed to access the zone while fireworks are in progress. The Public Works parking lot will also be closed all day.

Learn more here.

REEDS LAKE TRAIL BLAZER
The Reeds Lake Trail Blazer 5k Run/Walk returns July 4. This holiday classic supports the East Grand Rapids Community Foundation, which seeks to improve the quality of life for EGR residents and visitors by supporting various projects, including the Reeds Lake Trail wayfinding signage, Public Safety AED purchase and the Ramona Park historical marker, to name a few recent examples. 

Early packet pickup for those already registered is 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 3 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE. 

Participants can also register on race day (July 4) from 6:30-8:00 a.m. at the Community Center parking lot.

PUBLIC SAFETY

FIREWORKS
As Independence Day approaches, Public Safety reminds residents that fireworks are permitted in East Grand Rapids 11 a.m.-11:45 p.m. June 29-July 4 per Michigan law. 
 
If you choose to celebrate the Fourth of July by setting off fireworks, please be safe in doing so and courteous of your neighbors. Learn more by reading our fireworks safety tips.

REMINDER TO LOCK UP 
Join your neighbors in locking your home and vehicles when heading out of town for the holiday. Public Safety encourages residents to participate in the #9PMRoutine – a national initiative that helps community members remember to take simple measures nightly at 9 p.m. to keep their possessions safe. This includes bringing in items such as lawn equipment, toys and other personal items, locking your house, garage and vehicles and turning on outside lights to deter theft.

Learn more about the #9PMRoutine here.

FINANCE & CITY ADMINISTRATION

2024 STREET AND SIDEWALK MILLAGE PROPOSAL: FAQs
To help inform residents of the upcoming 2024 Street and Sidewalk Millage Proposal on the Aug. 6 ballot, we have created a series of FAQs.

This week’s question: Why is this millage necessary?

Our answer: The original 2015 Street and Sidewalk Millage expires this year. Continued funding is needed to maintain current street and sidewalk conditions, as well as recover the rising costs of asphalt and construction expenses. Additionally, ongoing maintenance is critical to prolong the lifespan of a road and minimize construction disruptions for residents.

Learn more about the millage proposal by visiting eastgrmi.gov/streetmillage.

CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS

Here are a few highlights from the July 1 City Commission meeting:

• Commission approved a motion to participate in the National Opioid Settlement Agreement with Kroger.

View the full agenda here. 

The next City Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, July 15 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE. 

Community members can also watch the meeting live via the City’s YouTube channel and view minutes and agendas here.

PUBLIC WORKS

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES & DTE WORK
View the latest construction updates from Public Works on our website. 

A reminder DTE Energy is working on large-scale replacements of private gas mains throughout EGR this year. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact DTE at 616.551.2621.

When driving through a work zone, please be mindful of crews, pedestrians and traffic.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS 

KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY: EAST GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH 
KDL’s Summer Wonder runs through Aug. 9, with programs and prizes for all ages. See the full list of events here. The library will be closed July 4. 

EAST GRAND RAPIDS SCHOOLS FOUNDATION 
The East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation's Midsummer Ice Dream, with free Kona Ice, face painting, sidewalk chalk and more, will be held 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, July 17 at the EGR Middle School parking lot, 2425 Lake Drive SE.

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