The city of Benton Harbor is seeking a more than $20 million federal grant to improve the area around Riverview Drive.
Southwest Michigan Planning Commission Deputy Director Marcy Hamilton tells us the planning commission assisted the city with drafting the application for a BUILD Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. She says the goal is to improve pedestrian access along Riverview and reduce flooding. So, how could that be accomplished?
“Creating areas where water could go using — we’re trying to use natural stormwater practices like green infrastructure, rain gardens, and those types of practices to take water when we have high water events,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton says the city wants to see the area become a popular destination for visitors, which could lead to economic development.
“We’d like to see more public area along the riverfront where there could be like a boardwalk for walking and places for people to fish and just spruce it up. It’s kind of in a state of disrepair right now, so making sure that it’s safe.”
An application for the $21.6 million grant was personally dropped off by Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad when he was in Washington, D.C. for an event last month.
Hamilton says the BUILD program is highly competitive, with only one round of funding this year and a whole lot of applicants. The city is likely to learn if it’s receiving the grant around December or early next year.
