The City now owns all of the land in the Heart of Cedar Springs project after it was officially donated to them earlier this week. From left to right: Kurt Mabie, CBDT President; Carolee Cole CBDT Secretary; Cedar Springs City Manager Mike Womack; and Mayor Gerald Hall.
The Community Building Development Team (CBDT) and Cedar Springs Manufacturing officially donated land that is part of the “Heart of Cedar Springs” project to the City this week.
Over the past three years, the CBDT, comprised of two dozen organizations and businesses in Cedar Springs, along with dozens of individual volunteers, has acquired six parcels equaling approximately 7.5 acres of land through a donation from CS Manufacturing, and from land that was bought at a substantially reduced price from Rob and Jodi Coxon. The donated land connects to the City-owned property on the northwest corner of Maple and Main Streets where the library is being constructed.
The entire area will be part of the ongoing development that will be known as the “Heart of Cedar Springs.”
In an effort to better serve the Cedar Springs Area, the CBDT decided now was the best time to donate the land to the City of Cedar Springs. Cedar Springs is quietly taking its place as the next up-and-coming community in Kent County, and entrepreneurs and developers have noticed. The official closing documents were signed with donated services of Jodi Ellis of Sun Title on Monday, October 17, with City Manager Mike Womack, and Mayor Jerry Hall, representing the city, and Kurt Mabie, CBDT President and Carolee Cole, CBDT Secretary.
“The City is grateful for all the hard work already put in by the CBDT on the Heart of Cedar Springs project and we look forward to working together to make downtown a better experience for everyone,” commented Womack.
Donating the land to the City not only benefits the community, but it also opens many new avenues for grant-funded projects. Once the DEQ permits are finalized, the CBDT and City hope to submit an April request for the Michigan DNR Recreational Grant for up to $300,000. The exact projects to be requested will soon be determined, but will focus on fulfilling the City and the Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation Plan. The City is a participating member of the Cedar Springs Areas Parks and Recreation (CSAPR), which is in the process of updating their Recreation Plan. For many years the plan has included a boardwalk/walking trail along Cedar Creek and bridges over the creek. Lack of funding has prevented the City from completing this portion of the jointly supported plan. Other features of the Recreation Plan include an amphitheater, which is the CBDT’s next project, as well as a Community Center and Recreation Facility.
“The City is excited to help invest in improvements that benefit the entire area, City and Townships included,” explained Womack.
Hall added that he was “Happy to take another step forward” in improving the City.
The CBDT has met monthly over the last three years and continues to meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month (except December) in the board room of Hilltop School at 6 p.m. This is a time when community members come together to share ideas, formulate sub-committees for specific projects, and pursue the dream for better community facilities and opportunities.
