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Grand Rapids Officials Asking for Annual $4 Million Park Funding in Nov. Election

Posted at 3:52 PM, Sep 06, 2013
and last updated 2013-09-06 16:09:25-04
Screen shot 2013-09-06 at 4.10.31 PM

Basketball hoop at Lincoln Park (courtesy GR Parks website)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A park millage on the November ballot asks for $4 million to be dedicated to the Grand Rapids park system annually.

“Currently, the City’s parks system is not sustainable,” a release from the City of Grand Rapids reads.
Grand Rapids parks currently compete with tax revenue for police, fire and other municipal services.  According to the release, funding for parks has been reduced more than any other service during cutbacks.

The city estimates that the millage would cost $44 a year for the average homeowner (the average home market value they used was $89,000).

Between 45 and 55 percent of that money will be used to repair current park equipment and facilities, 25 to 35 would be used to purchase new equipment and the remaining money would go toward keeping city pools open longer during swimming season.