Hello neighbor, and greetings from the GPNA Lodge on this well-earned sunny day. Listening to winter dripping its way down the drain always reminds me of the great resource provided by the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW). You can select one or more storm drains to adopt. I believe you can even name your adoptee.
Late winter seems like the right time to reflect on the results of last year’s spring survey. GPNA will be sending out a new survey in a month or two, and we like neighbors to understand its importance. GPNA takes direct action based on resident feedback.
Here’s a few examples from the past year. It might be helpful to remember that GPNA projects usually fall under two categories, Leadership and Civic Engagement and Public Safety:
There were several questions and comments about “green” initiatives
- GPNA started a resident led committee called “Green Neighbors”
- We will soon initiate a “Slow Mow Summer” campaign
- GPNA currently has active projects with WMEAC, Jade Rabbit (tennis court gardens), Plaster Creek Stewards, and Citizen’s Climate Lobby
- GPNA is excited for Friends of Grand Rapids Parks to get some neighborhood projects going in the next year or so
- GPNA targeted a few neighborhoods with postcards highlighting City refuse protocols
There were several comments about increasing awareness of neighborhood boundaries, neighborhood pride, and stronger neighborhood branding
- GPNA has increased the number of times we include the neighborhood boundaries in communication
- GPNA has done some door knocking and passed out flyers on blocks where there might be some ambiguity
- GPNA and Alger Heights Neighborhood leaders have a strong relationship and hope to do more collaboration
- Most importantly, GPNA promotes the concept of South Side Pride. No matter where you live (or think you live!), we are all in this together
Several expressed desire to see more support of our Latino population
- GPNA is hosting a series of Know Your Rights workshops
- We have strengthened our relationship with the Burton Height Business District and are partnering on a free community event this summer
- GPNA has hosted two fully bilingual events utilizing live translation through transmitters and receivers
- More to come!
There were a few general comments surrounding mobility (bike lanes, traffic calming, pedestrian safety)
- I was walking with Mayor LaGrand as he tried to cross South Division on foot. He gets it!
- GPNA started a resident led committee called Neighborhood Development. Mobility is one of their key focus areasGPNA plans to host a meeting with MobileGR to allow the community to hear what’s on the docket and to share ideas
There was a request to bring back the printed newsletter
- We loved it too, but the minimum cost is $5,000. It simply became too expensive
There was a request to reactivate the block captain model
- We would love to bring this back, but with roughly 100 residential blocks, this is a heavy lift even for GPNA’s small but mighty team. I have an outdated list from 2015 that would be the starting point for any potential volunteers!
And last but not least, pickleball on the tennis courts!
- We agree that the tennis courts are blight, but the raised bed gardens are an improvement. Three more raised beds are on their way this growing season
- There was a group that considered working on this project, but they decided not to pursue it
- About a year ago, the estimated cost to renovate the tennis courts was about $350,000
- The Kroc Center had expressed some interest in converting their basketball courts to pickleball courts. This would be a pay-to-play situation. GPNA can make introductions if there is a neighbor that wants to learn more
Get on out there and get your shoes muddy,
Katy
