Early Friday morning, a group of Ferris State University students began building a new pavilion at Northend Riverside Park in Big Rapids.

The new structure, a 24-by-48-foot pavilion, will include an open area for potential seating and tables, as well as a closed storage room. The projected completion date is mid-October.

Ethan Slock, a student involved with the project, said many students from the Associated Construction Students program will be on-site to assist.

“Each day, we are going to have 10 students out here,” Slock said. “There will be a total of about 40 (students).”

The City of Big Rapids is providing materials for the project. The pavilion was designed by Jeremy Horton, a professor and licensed engineer.

“All this hands-on experience is what Ferris is all about,” Horton said. “This is just an extension of what we do in the classroom. It's a really good experience for them.”

A concrete slab has been poured, and wooden beams have been placed. The pavilion is located at the park's entrance along Fourth Avenue, near the White Pine Trail.