Westside district to plant new trees in West Fulton business corridor

In partnership with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, Urban Forest Project, and ITC Holdings, the Westside CID is excited to be awarded a mini-grant to plant over 15 trees targeting the West Fulton Business Corridor. Our hope is to cultivate community pride as we get businesses and residents  working side-by side to replace some of the 30 plus trees, mostly American Ash lost to the Emerald Ash Borer over the past decade which left large stretches of the corridor with little to no tree canopy.

When talking to Grand Rapids’ Westside residents and business owners it’s no secret that there is great pride and ownership in their community. Spend a day walking the streets and interacting with folks here and you’re almost guaranteed to hear some version of “Westside is the Best Side!” It is also no secret that lower Westside has seen a major increase in interest and investment from residents, businesses and developers over the last few years. In an effort to capitalize on the investment and help catalyze the revitalization occurring, the Westside Corridor Improvement District (CID) was formed in 2014 and embraces the “History, Tradition, and Pride” of the lower Westside by bringing together the three business districts spanning from West Leonard, Bridge-Stocking, West Fulton, and connected by Seward Avenue.

Along with residents and neighborhood organizations, The Westside CID coordinates efforts to make capital improvements within our established commercial district. The Westside CID is designed to assist development by reinvesting the tax dollars the city already collects right back into our district. The CID is governed by a city-appointed board called a Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA), which is comprised of local property owners, business owners, and one resident of the district as it aims to invest in public infrastructure improvements.

These improvements celebrate who we are today and how we would like to grow well into the future. Some examples that have occurred elsewhere throughout the City include mural projects, bike racks, wayfinding signage, and other streetscape improvements, including the May 15 tree planting. These are all tremendous opportunities to get more people involved.

The planting will take place on Sunday, May 15 from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. and is open to all families and individuals interested, including those living outside of the Westside. The group will be meeting up at Servant's Church Community Park located at the southwest corner of West Fulton and Straight Avenue. For more information, questions or to RSVP to volunteer for this event please contact Andrew Sisson with Westside CID by email at [email protected] or by phone at 616-745-6803.