GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WZZM) -- Plans are changing for a multi-million-dollar project designed to improve the Grand Haven Waterfront Stadium. After a series of public meetings, city leaders backed off some ideas and added new ones.
On Monday night, the city council is discussing an updated design which could have similarities to Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids.
Earlier Monday, the stadium was empty - typical during the winter months when they're no show. "Nobody wants to go down there and hang out," said Grand Haven City Manager Pat McGinnis."
However, just down the road inside City Hall there was much more activity, fueled by new ideas.
"We want to do it right," said McGinnis.
The city in June released the original plans for redesigning Waterfront Stadium, said McGinnis, and "the city council kind of hit a pause button back in September."
Several public meetings followed, and so did an increased social media effort soliciting feedback from a younger population, McGinnis said.
Now, city leaders are discussing their updated plan. It includes cutting some things, like the concession stand.
"Some of our small businesses said, 'We've got concessions; we've got that angle covered,' so we listened to that," McGinnis said.
City leaders plan to add other features; for example, they hope to extend the edge where the land meets the water, for additional events.
"[There's] a lot of interest in having a good, expansive dance area," said McGinnis.
McGinnis says it's meant to feel more like a park than a stadium, with year-round activities. Some possibilities include competitive sports and winter ice skating.
"If we get the skating going in there, [we're] looking to have some bonfire pits and an entertainment venue, so it would be very much like Rosa Parks on the river," said McGinnis. "That's a good way of putting it."
The latest plan would also be barrier-free, making it more accessible for disabled people. McGinnis says that would make the area more inviting without an added cost.
The total cost of the project is about $3.5 million.
City leaders expect to have a final design ready for the January 18th council meeting. Then a city fundraising campaign will follow.
