$13 million earmark will jumpstart effort to naturalize Kalamazoo River in Battle Creek

Battle Creek Enquirer

This rendering from Battle Creek Whitewater, Inc. shows what a naturalized stretch of the Kalamazoo River might look like through downtown Battle Creek. On Friday, the approved state budget included $13 million appropriated to Battle Creek Unlimited for the river naturalization project.

A concrete stretch of the Kalamazoo River in downtown Battle Creek is one step closer to returning to a natural state.

On Friday morning, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state lawmakers agreed on a $76 billion budget deal, which included $13 million set aside for Battle Creek Unlimited for a river naturalization project under an economic development and workforce grant.

It's part of nearly $14 million in projects for Calhoun County in the $76 billion state budget passed Friday that includes about $1 billion in earmarks, or special projects championed by local legislators.

The concrete channel runs from just south of the Fountain Street bridge to the confluence with the Battle Creek River near Hamblin Avenue. It was designed by the Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1961 as a flood control measure. Long considered an "eyesore" by residents, the "cement river" has exceeded its life expectancy.

A concrete channel of the Kalamazoo River is pictured in downtown Battle Creek, Mich. on Friday, July 1, 2022.

“This is a major step forward in transforming the riverfront and for the continued revitalization of downtown Battle Creek," said Battle Creek Unlimited President and CEO Joe Sobieralski. “We are extremely appreciative for the hard work State Rep. Matt Hall did in working with House Appropriations Chair Thomas Albert to make this happen for Battle Creek. This funding would not have happened without their joint leadership.

"We also thank State Rep. Jim Haadsma, State Sen. John Bizon, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer for supporting a state budget that works to make communities more vibrant and viable through place-based economic development.”

The closure of two industrial facilities on the banks of the channel has created an opportunity to expand the footprint of the river. Funding will go to BCU to be used for environmental assessment, property acquisition and removing old industrial facilities, including the recently closed Graphic Packing facility and parts of the former TreeHouse Foods facility. Funds will also be set aside for road realignment.

The former TreeHouse Foods plant located on the banks of the concrete channel of the Kalamazoo River in downtown Battle Creek on Friday, July 1, 2022.

The city of Battle Creek is requesting a feasibility study from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has a program that provides financial support and assistance for river naturalization projects.

The nonprofit Battle Creek Whitewater, Inc. will be working with BCU on the project. The volunteer organization has spearheaded much of the effort to return concrete channel back to a natural state, with planning beginning as far back as 2003 before the organization formed in 2014.

$800,000 set aside for Binder Park Zoo

Rendering of the Charles and Lynn Zhang SkyLark Ridge high ropes attraction at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan, expected to open summer 2022.

The other earmark in Calhoun County is $800,000 that has been appropriated to Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek.

Diane Thompson, CEO Binder Park Zoo, said the funds will go towards completing phase 1 of a $2 million high ropes and zip line structure currently under construction, along with phase 2 which will create a separate entrance to the attraction.

Binder Park Zoo is building a $2 million high ropes course and zip line attraction

"We are incredibly grateful to Representative Haadsma, and Senators Hall and Bizon because they really put forward a bipartisan effort to getting the funds appropriated to Binder Park Zoo," Thompson said. "This was working across the isle for the betterment of our community."

The attraction, named the Charles and Lynn Zhang SkyLark Ridge, is a three-story rope course-style attraction featuring five zip lines that curve around the structure, with patrons suspended in the air via a safety harness. An additional structure called "Little Larks" will have the same components, but will be scaled down for guests under 48 inches tall. It is expected to open during the summer 2022 season.

“I am very pleased that the state budget includes funds that will help grow Battle Creek and support our residents. With monies set aside in the budget, we will be able to work on local projects," Haadsma said in a release. "For instance, there is $800,000 for investments in the Binder Park Zoo zip line project. I’m very glad to see priorities of mine in the budget agreement, and I’m proud to have advocated for them."

The final budget deal includes more than $19.6 billion for the School Aid Fund, bolstered by a $450 increase in per-pupil funding. The budget dedicates $1.92 billion to "special education resources." That's in addition to $2 billion for institutions of higher education and $530 million for community colleges.

Bizon additionally touted the general omnibus budget that includes $2.3 billion to help fix local roads and bridges, $1.7 billion to fix state highway roadways and bridges.

“I am proud to support a budget agreement that so responsibly invests in the future of our state by increasing educational funding, investing needed funding into infrastructure and public safety, paying down the state’s debts and saving for a rainy day,” Bizon said in a release. “I am particularly happy that we were able to secure funding in this spending plan to complete several projects important to the people of the 19th Senate District.”

Contact reporter Nick Buckley at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley