eco-friendly - WKTV Journal

BLOOM’s month-long festivities allow greater Grand Rapids community members to take part in sustainable practices and seasonal activities (Courtesy, RiverTown Crossings)

By WKTV Staff

This spring, RiverTown Crossings is proud to present BLOOM, an innovative month-long event series dedicated to sustainability and community engagement.

Starting on March 15 and running through April 26, BLOOM will transform RiverTown Crossings into a vibrant hub of eco-friendly activities and events.

“BLOOM showcases RiverTown Crossings’ dedication to community connection, featuring eco-friendly initiatives and engaging family-friendly events,” says Melissa Brink, Marketing Manager at RiverTown Crossings. “We’re delighted to provide a program that brings together sustainability, creativity, and community to celebrate the season.”

BLOOM aims to inspire and educate visitors on sustainable living practices while fostering a stronger sense of community and promoting fresh beginnings.

A wide variety of fun activities are available for all ages, including:

Document Shredding & Recycling Programs – Saturday, March 15

In celebration of World Recycle Day and in partnership with West Michigan Shredding, the community is encouraged to bring sensitive documents for safe disposal at an on-site shredding truck from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located in the northeast parking lot near Dick’s Sporting Goods, guests may bring paper-based materials for shredding.

Participants who bring their documents to be shredded can text to enter a giveaway for a chance to win a $100 Uccello’s gift card.

Guests are also encouraged to visit several RiverTown Crossings tenants to support their recycling programs. Tenants include:

H&M – The retailer’s Garment Collection Program allows guests to drop off unwanted clothes from any brand, in any condition to recycle boxes in-store. The collected textiles are sorted for reuse, repurposing, or recycling to reduce waste.
American Eagle – Thinking of getting rid of that old pair of jeans? Bring them into an AE and get $10 toward a new pair! Shoppers must be a Real Rewards member to redeem this offer.
Sephora – Drop off your cleaned-out packaging to Sephora’s dedicated collection bins. In partnership with the nonprofit, Pact, the collected packaging will be repurposed into carpets, pallets, asphalt, new packaging and more.

BLOOM Bike Rodeo (Courtesy, RiverTown Crossings)

World Water Day – Saturday, March 22

In celebration of World Water Day, the center will host multiple environmental groups and vendors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lower level Center Court, to provide eco-friendly education and activities. Guests can also sign up to receive a free ‘RiverTown Crossings’ branded water bottle, with purchase at select stores and while supplies last.

Spring Affair – Friday, April 4 through Saturday, April 19

Capture season memories with Easter Bunny photo sessions taking place in Center Court. Fresh from the Home & Garden Show in Grand Rapids, DeHamer Landscaping will install a vibrant display of live plants and flowers for a beautiful spring backdrop. Guests are encouraged to reserve their spots and review photo packages, as space is limited. To reserve a photo session, visit whereisbunny.com.

Spring Break Activities – Saturday, April 12

Celebrating the end of spring break, families are invited to visit the RiverTown Crossings for a series of activities including crafts, coloring, face painting, balloon animals and an egg hunt.

Earth Day: Bike Rodeo – Saturday, April 26

Local law enforcement agencies including the Grandville Police Department, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Police Department and the Walker Police Department are teaming up to host a free Bike Rodeo from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., located in the Dick’s Sporting Goods parking lot.

The event will teach kids essential bike safety skills, including bike repairs, helmet checks and safe riding techniques, and a skills course will be available for those looking to challenge themselves. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own bikes, though a limited number of loaner bikes will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Families can also enjoy exciting giveaways including a wildflower seed in Center Court, and bike raffles throughout the event.

For a full calendar of events, visit www.rivertowncrossings.com/bloom and follow RiverTown Crossings on Facebook and Instagram.

The Rapid’s new electric vehicles sport vibrant flower power designs (Courtesy, The Rapid)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

The Rapid is thrilled to share that they have added their first 12 fully electric vehicles to the Go!Bus ADA paratransit fleet.

The EVs help reduce public transportation’s carbon footprint in West Michigan (Courtesy, The Rapid)

The EVs mark another step forward in environmental sustainability, complementing The Rapid’s eco-friendly propane fleet and further reducing public transportation’s carbon footprint in West Michigan.

Distinctly vibrant

Each electric vehicle displays a groovy saying on the bottom right panel (Courtesy, The Rapid)

These distinctly vibrant vehicles hit the streets on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Wrapped in a groovy 60s flower power theme, the design features bold, colorful patterns with nods to the future and sustainability, highlighting The Rapid’s commitment to a cleaner and greener community.

“Our decisions in vehicle propulsion and fuel type matter to The Rapid, our community and our future,” said Deb Prato, Rapid CEO. “Over 85% of our fixed route fleet runs on renewable natural gas, and the 12 new EVs show our ongoing commitment to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in our service area.”

Fully electric vehicles bring numerous benefits to both riders and the community, including quieter operation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and lower maintenance costs. The new Go!Bus vehicles are part of The Rapid’s larger commitment to sustainable and innovative practices, aligning with the goals outlined in its Transit Master Plan.

Empowerment through transit

Go!Bus ADA paratransit empowers seniors and individuals with disabilities across the six cities, enabling them to access employment, healthcare, and meaningful social connections. In the 2024 fiscal year, The Rapid celebrated a remarkable 7% growth in ridership, delivering 228,320 rides.

Federal resources funded this milestone venture (Courtesy, The Rapid)

During a community survey, the transit system consistently received high ratings for “providing transportation options to people with special mobility needs,” (including seniors and individuals with disabilities). In the Spring 2024 survey, 91% of respondents found the service to be very or extremely valuable in this respect.

Milestone funding

This milestone was made possible by earmarked federal funding secured by former Congressman Peter Meijer. His efforts ensured federal resources were directed toward enhancing sustainable transportation options in the Grand Rapids area.