Ideal Park tornado damage

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Tonight, the City of Wyoming will host a second meeting to discuss the upcoming request to open up its library maintenance millage for park improvements.

The meeting is set for 7 p.m. tonight at the Gezon Fire Station located at 2300 Gezon Parkway SW. On the May 2 ballot, the city is requesting that .16 of the .39 library maintenance levy be used to help with park improvements. The nearly $800,000 per year raised would be use to pay a 15-year bond of $4.4 million. The bond money would be dedicated for park improvements at Ideal, Jackson, Ferrand, and Gezon.

According to Wyoming’s Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt, the mill levy for the average Wyoming homeowner would be less than $12 a year.

For the past several years, the City of Wyoming has made facility improvements to the library which has included the revamping of the former library cafe into a public meeting space. “Over the course of the years, the city council has only actually levied that which is necessary to maintain the library,” Rynbrandt said, adding that as city officials looked ahead, they realized for the next 10 years, the library facility would not need any major renovations.

“So here we are not at the point where we can say we don’t need to make those significant investments in library maintenance in the next 10 years,” Rynbrandt said. “So we have a choice: can we ask the voters to recognize the maintenance needs in the park system and would they allow us the flexibility to use some of those library maintenance funds on park capital.”

The question before voters on May 2 is whether the city can use some of the library maintenance funds for park improvements.

This would not have any impact on the overall operation of the library which falls under the Kent District Library system. Operation, including materials, is covered through a KDL millage which is separate from the city’s library maintenance millage.

Two tornados and a flood within four years caused extensive damage at Ideal Park with the park losing many of its trees and playground equipment. Jackson Park also was impacted by the tornados but also has a need for better stormwater control along with improved security and safety. Ferrand Park is a small pocket park that has not have any major improvements in a number of years and Gezon Park is surrounded by intense residential growth with the central area of the park needing to be developed.

For more information about the proposal and the four parks, visit WYParks.com. The next meeting on the parks will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at the Wyoming Public Library, 3350 Michael Ave. SW.

Tornado 5 — Homes on Avrill SW in Wyoming were hit hard. Photo by Janice Limbaugh

On Sunday, July 6, 2014 at 10:30p.m., residents of Kentwood and Wyoming faced up to 100 miles per hour winds in what is being referred to as a EF-1 tornado. People woke up to huge trees through their homes, downed power lines, demolished vehicles, and flooding throughout their neighborhoods. Numerous injuries have been reported due to the weather damage.

According to Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley’s office the storm path was from 60th & Division northeast to 44th & Kalamazoo. The tornado started in the City of Wyoming on Clay between 60th and 54th.

Tornado 2 — Zeeland Truss and Components on Clay sustained major damage from the tornado.

This morning a Kentwood firefighter said, ” I counted 20 places that lost their roofs and a bunch of collapses as a result of the tornado ripping through the area.”

The City of Wyoming’s Facebook page states-“We appreciate the support of firefighters from Georgetown Township, Jamestown Township and Grandville, who joined Wyoming Public Safety officers last night going door-to-door to check on residents. There are still numerous live power lines down in this area, and we caution all residents to use caution and stay away from any downed power lines. Do not attempt to move any downed wire. Consumers Power is working to clear the area now. They can be reached to report a downed power line at 1-800-477-5050.

100_1152 — Before the tornado, Ideal Park was home to many mature hard wood trees. One resident said, “The scars will be noticeable for years to come.” Photo by Janice Limbaugh

Playground areas within Ideal Park are covered and damaged by fallen trees.

Additionally, Ideal Park, which is located in this area, sustained damage and is closed today.

Once Consumers Power has given us the all clear, the City will send crews out to begin cleaning up the storm damage and clearing streets and other public right of ways.

The Salvation Army and Red Cross are working to set up emergency shelters. While we don’t have locations yet, we will share that as soon as we are able. For updates, please check back on City of Wyoming Facebook page or follow us on Twitter (WyomingCityHall).

100_1177 — Salvation Army and the Red Cross set up a food and refreshment tent in the neighborhood of Avrill and 56th. Photo by Janice Limbaugh

Right now the Salvation Army truck is on the corner of 56th and Averill street offering refreshments to people in need.

Kentwood Parks & Recreation on 48th Street opened at 1:00a.m. last night. The City of Kentwood and The American Red Cross are offering assistance to residents. They opened a shelter at Kentwood Community Center for those without power or otherwise displaced from their homes. More than 60 people took refuge at the center, sources told WKTV’s Citizen Journalism program. It is estimated that power will not be restored for days.

The Mayor’s office advised neighbors to check on neighbors and not to drive in damaged areas. Today, from 2:00p.m.-10:00p.m. Kentwood residents can bring tree limbs and yard debris to Kellogwoods Park. Residents should come into the park via 52nd St/Kelloggwoods Drive.

This is probably the most significant tornado since April 21,1967 when a classified F-3 tornado hit in Wyoming/Grand Rapids. 65 buildings were destroyed, and 60 others were badly damaged. 375 buildings sustained minor damage. A church and a K-Mart store were completely destroyed.