Community Updates: Friday, September 23

Thrive Outside Grand Rapids to Bring Free Outdoor Activities to Grand Rapids in October

In celebration of National Thrive Outside Day, Thrive Outside Grand Rapids has announced that they will be organizing a number of outdoor activities for the public to enjoy during the month of October. These events, which will take place at different outdoor spaces within Grand Rapids, will be free and offer attendees a variety of different, nature-based experiences. Sam Truby, Thrive Outside Grand Rapids's Gear Library Supervisor, made the following statement in a press release that was sent out on Wednesday:

"Equitable access to outdoor equipment and experiences is so important for our community. These spaces belong to all of us, and our hope is that Thrive Outside Day and the following events will empower a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts in Grand Rapids who feel comfortable and confident exploring the outdoors."

On September 24, members of the public can visit the Thrive Outside Gear Library for an afternoon full of games, music, and refreshments. Attendees will also be able to receive a tour of the facility and pre-register for the five events that have been planned as part of this series (so far):

For more information, check out Wednesday's press release or visit the Thrive Outside Grand Rapids website here.

City of Grand Rapids Reveals Dates and Locations for Upcoming Commission Night Out Meetings

On August 23, the City of Grand Rapids held the first of the Commission Night Out events at Sibley Elementary School in the First Ward. During that meeting, the city collected lots of valuable input from the community about what it is looking for when it comes to public safety, transportation, infrastructure, and more. Many First Ward residents expressed the need for more affordable housing, resources for the unhoused population, and crime prevention measures (among various other things). Now, the Grand Rapids City Commission is looking for feedback from residents in other parts of the city. 

On Thursday, the City of Grand Rapids sent out a press release announcing the dates and locations of the next two Commission Night Out meetings. The Third Ward meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 18 at the Gerald R. Ford Academic Center on Madison Avenue. The Second Ward meeting will take place two weeks later on Tuesday, November 1 at the GRPS University building on Fuller Avenue. Both meetings will begin at 5:30pm. 

For more information, visit the City of Grand Rapids's website here.

Also in the News:

• The Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) and SAFE Task Force have announced that, during the gun buyback event that occurred on September 17, they collected a total of 285 firearms.

Sharing Your Stories

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