Michigan State Police, local law enforcement and Michigan’s Field Neurosciences Institute have teamed up with McDonald’s of Michigan to once again launch “Caught Being Safe,” a statewide bicycle/scooter helmet safety program. Kids wearing helmets and “caught being safe” by participating law enforcement officials will treated to a free ice cream cone or Apple Dippers at McDonald’s. 

According to the Field Neurosciences Institute (of Michigan): “Caught Being Safe! has shown a significant increase in both helmet utilization and public awareness regarding the critical importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. This program has impacted not only children but adults as well.” 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Hundreds of Grand Rapids children have a new place to play, thanks to an army of volunteers.

On June 13, more than 300 people from Amway,  Ellington Academy of Arts & Technology and KaBoom! pitched in to build a new playground at in front of the school, located at 600 Burton Street SE.  The volunteers spent several hours transforming children’s designs into a place to play. 

Dr. Marvin L. Sapp and other community leaders will celebrate the playground’s grand opening Tuesday, June 17 at 5 p.m., before officially welcoming children to play at the new site, which is the 16th of its kind built by Amway and KaBOOM.  

ADA TOWNSHIP, Mich.—Plans to replace three boardwalks on Ada Drive will be delayed, after an accounting error.

In a letter to the township supervisor, planning director Jim Ferro says he discovered late last month that he made an error, overstating the Trail Fund balance at the start of the current fiscal year by about $100,000.  This means the Trail Fund does not have enough money in it to pay for the $120,000 boardwalk replacement project previously budgeted for the year.

Ferro says the error came from including $99,170 in grant funding that actually went to the Kent County Road Commission, not Ada Township.   He’ll present his budget update during the Ada Township board meeting Monday, June 9.