The Perry Avenue sidewalk project can now be considered truly done. The Big Rapids Township Board of Commissioners approved the final payment of around $79,000 to the contractor at Tuesday's meeting. Township Supervisor Bill Stanek says its been a long time coming

“We started working on it when this board came on four years ago.”

Stanek notes that it took a lot of cooperation from a lot of people to get the project finished.

“We had the City [of Big Rapids], Ferris, MDOT, all work together with us – the Township put money in it and then we had a special assessment from the businesses out there. So about 80 percent was paid by the businesses and the other 20 percent was paid by the four organizations.”

Although the sidewalk, which runs from Venlo Place Apartments and travels along Perry Avenue to Aldis and Meijer, had a price tag of just under one-half million dollars, Stanek says it was worth it.

“There's been people out there walking it – every time I've been by there I've seen people out walking it already and it was definitely needed. People are happy.”

Big Rapids Township paid the money up front for the sidewalk and businesses along the route have already made two payments to the Township with the rest of the assessment spread over the next six years.