THE DESPERATE AMBASSADOR

[Ed.: This article has been edited to reflect new information we have received since its original publication.]

The Ambassador, a.k.a. G.O.P. grandee Peter Secchia, tells us that desperate times call for desperate measures.  His friends have $8.8 million to donate to the completion of the Ambassador's pet project, the expansive Millennium Park along the banks of the Grand River on the southwest side of town.  Yet, progress on the park hasn't been fast enough for them, so that's why the Ambassador has put forward three proposals to the Kent County board of commissioners, one of which is increasing our property taxes to complement the private donations and get the job down now.

Hmm, if the times are all that desperate, is a new park really necessary?

It'll help some of the players in town turn a profit on the development of a couple hundred acres at the northern tip of Millennium Park, which they purchased a few years back in anticipation of then-Grand Rapids mayor Boss Logie swinging a deal for a $100 million taxpayer-funded expansion of John Ball Park Zoo onto that land.  (Note: To be clear I do not know at this time if these developers are the same group proposing to donate $8.8 million for the park.)  That fell apart when the state balked at providing the funds and then the Meijer family graciously offered another site on the east side town for a new zoo.  But maybe a quick completion of Millennium Park can come to the rescue.

It is important to know that the Millennium Park project is well underway.  Kent County has already acquired over 1,000 of the 1,500 acres of the planned site for the park.  In fact, the county has opened a large portion of this to the public along Veterans Memorial and Riverbend drives.  Furthermore, with private funds amounting to more the four million dollars, the county has built park amenities including a bathhouse, a spray park for the kids, and the clock tower.

The fact is, folks, the Millennium Park project is moving along its 10-year schedule for completion, even if it isn't fast enough for some potential donors.  So, if this sours them on donating $8.8 million for extra parklands in town, maybe there are other worthy efforts to donate their money to -- like keeping Catherine's Care Center open?