Grand Rapids residents asked to photograph river from Gillett Bridge as restoration progresses

GRAND RAPIDS — Construction at Ah-Nab-Awen Park has drawn visible change to the Grand River this summer as crews work to remove aging dams and replace them with natural rock structures intended to restore river flow and rapids. Alongside heavy equipment and white coffer dams in the riverbed, officials have placed a small but notable device for public participation: a metal-bracketed sign mounted on the Gillett Bridge.

Simple action, wide reach

The sign is designed to help the Lower Grand River Organization of Watershed (LGROW) collect consistent photographic documentation of the river restoration. Residents are asked to use their phone cameras, align the lens within the bracket and take a photo from the same angle each time. Photographs can then be posted on social media with the hashtag

#PhotoMonitorGRR

Organizers say the bracket ensures a consistent camera angle, which makes comparing images over time simpler and more reliable than ad hoc photographs from differing viewpoints. The public-sourced images will supplement professionally produced documentation and could be incorporated into a timelapse when the project is complete.

What’s happening on the river

Work on the riverfront began in earnest in July, with construction both along the riverside and in the water itself. Crews have installed large white structures in the river to dewater sections of the riverbed as they remove dams and reintroduce natural rocks and boulders to create barriers and channel features that mimic more natural rapids.

The effort reflects years of planning and careful coordination. Removing the existing dams and reshaping the riverbed requires staged work by professionals, but LGROW’s outreach aims to make the restoration visible to residents and to invite daily observers to contribute photographic evidence of how the river changes.

How to participate

• Go to the Gillett Bridge near the Civic Auditorium and locate the bracket-mounted sign.
• Place your phone camera so the lens is framed by the bracket to maintain consistent perspective.
• Take a photo and either post it on social media with the hashtag #PhotoMonitorGRR or email it to info@lgrow.org.
• Visit LGROW’s project page later to view compiled images and any timelapse produced from submitted photos.

Those who already use hands-free phone holders in vehicles are familiar with the concept of aligning a device in a fixed mount; LGROW’s sign applies the same basic idea to river monitoring.

Local context and implications

The Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids has been affected by manmade structures for more than a century. The current restoration work aims to reverse some of those impacts by removing dams that have kept the river at a placid level and installing rock features that encourage natural flow patterns. Besides ecological goals, the project has the potential to change how residents experience the riverfront — from the look of the river to recreational opportunities.

Community participation through photography gives residents a tangible role in documenting that transformation. Local officials and historians have previously noted that riverfront work frequently uncovers artifacts and features tied to Grand Rapids’ history; public photography may help capture both engineered changes and unintended discoveries.

Where to view results

LGROW has indicated that photos submitted by the public will be used to help monitor change and could be included in a timelapse showing the project’s progress once work is complete. Interested residents can check LGROW’s communications channels for updates and the completed timelapse.

The bracketed sign offers a low-barrier way for Grand Rapids residents to be part of the record as the Grand River through downtown changes. For now, organizers encourage anyone who walks, bikes or drives across the Gillett Bridge to stop, line up a shot and help document the river’s return to a more natural state.