Residents will start seeing improvements to Library Park soon. The Friends of the Big Rapids Community Library and the Library Board presented their Master Plan for the park to the city Park and Recreation Board on Thursday. The plan calls for a wide ranging makeover including areas dedicated to outdoor reading and movies, vegetable gardens, a pollinator garden, and a 20 space parking lot. The entire project is estimated to cost around $290,000.

“It's quite a large project but that doesn't mean it's impossible through grants and fundraising and taking the whole project into phases,” says City Parks and Recreation Director Heather Bowman.

The plan was approved by the Big Rapids Park and Recreation Board and Bowman notes that although it is a long term effort, things will start happening quickly.

“As early as this weekend. We've coordinated with the Big Rapids Community Garden Club to start getting people out there to utilize those garden beds.”

Bowman adds the Library Park project is part of an overall Master Plan for all Big Rapids city parks.