East Grand Rapids leaders are set to vote on a $1.7 million pedestrian safety plan that includes a new refuge island crossing on Cascade Road — a project that spans into Cascade and has sparked debate among neighbors about where federal student safety dollars should go.

The city commission is scheduled to consider the proposal at its Monday night meeting. If approved, the Safe Routes to School infrastructure improvements would go to bid in June 2026, with construction beginning in July and completion expected by fall 2026, according to city documents.

A Crossing on Cascade Road

The plan includes a refuge island crossing on Cascade Road, built in partnership with Grand Rapids Township and the Kent County Road Commission. The crossing is designed to connect students who live in Grand Rapids Township but attend East Grand Rapids schools.

That means drivers and pedestrians in Cascade will see changes on one of the area's busiest corridors.

Neighbor Pushback on Reeds Lake Boulevard

The biggest single project in the plan would add a 5-foot concrete sidewalk along the south side of Reeds Lake Boulevard from El Centro Boulevard to Manhattan Road. That stretch currently has a sidewalk only on the north side.

Matt and Jenna Christy, who live along the proposed route, support student safety improvements but question whether this is where the funding should go.

"We all want student safety, but I just don't think that this is the way to do it," the couple said.

The Christys, who have five children ranging from 12 to 22 years old, say the city should focus spending closer to schools, near where accidents and near misses actually happen.

"I feel like it's a real misuse of government money that was intended for getting kids to school safe," Jenna Christy said.

City Says Data Backs the Plan

City officials point to pedestrian count data from the Grand Valley Metro Council showing the Reeds Lake Boulevard segment has among the highest pedestrian activity in the entire region.

"It's telling us that we have this many pedestrians that are moving through an area," city official La Fave said.

La Fave noted that about 94 percent of the city already has sidewalks on both sides of streets, making the North Shore area a gap in the pedestrian network.

The city's original concept called for a 10-foot shared asphalt pathway. After neighbor engagement about concerns over existing landscaping and trees in the public right-of-way, officials scaled the design down to a narrower concrete sidewalk.

"We didn't stick with the original plan because of the feedback the residents helped us to shape that vision for a future project in a different manner," La Fave said.

Parents Say the Investment Is Worth It

Other residents strongly support the plan.

Ashley Foster, whose two children attend Lakeside Elementary, called the investment a no-brainer.

"If we prioritize community and we prioritize kids, why would we not improve their safety?" Foster said.

Andrew Grashuis, who has a 13-year-old who bikes around town, described school dismissal as chaotic.

"It's a mad house, so my office is right downtown Gaslight, and you know when school gets out, you hear the screaming and the voices," Grashuis said.

Foster added that adults and children are injured more often than people realize.

"There are adults and children injured way more often than people are probably aware of, or would like to admit. So, why would we not spend $1.7M to improve their safety?" she said.

What the $1.7 Million Covers

The full Safe Routes to School plan includes:

• A new sidewalk on the south side of Reeds Lake Boulevard from El Centro Boulevard to Manhattan Road
• Sidewalk improvements on the north side of Cascade Road
• A refuge island crossing on Cascade Road with Grand Rapids Township and Kent County Road Commission
• Connectivity improvements at Manhattan Park
• ADA accessibility upgrades around five school campuses
• $75,000 for education and training at schools
• New crosswalks, bike racks, and traffic calming measures

The funding comes from a federal program, with the city contributing an estimated $150,000. The project stems from more than 3,000 survey responses from parents and students, including 2,024 student surveys completed at school and 1,021 parent responses completed by household.

The improvements connect to the city's broader Mobility/Bike Action Plan adopted in 2022, which identified insufficient pedestrian infrastructure in the north shore area.

What Comes Next

When asked whether federal money could have been used in another community that may need it more, La Fave said the city followed the program's guidance.

"We apply through the program, we meet the criteria, and if we meet the criteria and are offered an award and accept that, that's really more of an opinion based if they don't necessarily particularly care for that program," La Fave said.

Some neighbors say their concerns have not been fully addressed.

"I know that the city has talked to us, but I don't know if it's really, we feel like it's fallen on deaf ears," Jenna Christy said.

The city commission vote on the Safe Routes to School plan is scheduled for Monday evening.