Foto Friday – Fish Ladder Park Grand Rapids Michigan

Foto Friday – Fish Ladder Park Grand Rapids Michigan

Fish Ladder Sculpture Grand Rapids MI

To help the salmon that are trying to reach their spawning grounds

in the upper reaches of the Grand River and its tributaries, this Fish Ladder

was installed at one of the main drops in the Grand River.  Even with the

help of the ladder, they still have a Herculean task to get up  the Grand

River in downtown Grand Rapids.  Fish Ladder on Grand River

The Fish Ladder was installed in 1974 and is a favorite spot to watch

 the fish return up river in the fall.  Joseph E Kinnebrew IV, designed the

Fish Ladder Sculpture that allows the fish to climb the dam at Fourth Street

and Front NW.  

We have seen the fish so thick that the ducks can walk on their backs

to catch treats thrown in for them.  If you visit when the salmon are

running, be sure to bring a bag of bread crumbs!

 

View of GR from ladder

Grand views of our local city and riverfront are visible from here. 

You can see the many cranes and buildings going up on Michigan Avenue,

also known as The Medical Mile. The VanAndel Institute, Butterworth Hospital,

Lemmon-Holton Cancer Center, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and the

Michigan State University Medical School.

Grand Rapids Medical Mile from Fish Ladder

A small public city park adjoins the fish ladder and is a great spot

to bring a picnic lunch and watch the activity on the river.

Fishermen were pulling huge salmon from the river when we visited the

other day.  The salmon are on their way upstream from Lake Michigan.

Birch tree at FL park

 

Did you think Grand Rapids was named for the river that flows through it?

Yes, and for the treacherous and lengthy rapids that existed here.

 

Grand River Rapids Wall

The rapids have long been tamed with reinforced concrete walls that

step the rapids down gradually along the length of the river through the city.

Whether you come to fish or just watch the fish jumping, it is a fascinating

spectacle every fall in Grand Rapids.

____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan.  We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

ar125812212017642 Grand Rapids Michigan Sept 9 10th 2011 Events ar125812218972939 Grand Rapids Michigan Sept 9 10th 2011 Events ar125812225271331 Grand Rapids Michigan Sept 9 10th 2011 Events

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

                          Contact Terry   616-292-7263

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