A gathering space for many, the site of concerts, ice skating, festivals, and more downtown Grand Rapids is in need of an upgrade.

Wood TV 8 reports that a group is fundraising to reach a $2 million goal to renovate Rosa Parks Circle next year.

Janna/ TSM
Janna/ TSM
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Rosa Parks Circle, also known as “Ecliptic,” was designed in 1999 by internationally-acclaimed artist Maya Lin, whose other works include the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama; the Wave Field outdoor installation at the University of Michigan; and the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.

According to the fundraising group, Ecliptic at Rosa Parks Circle Conservancy:

The theme of water in all forms - liquid, solid, and vapor - inspired this massive public artwork whose concept, in a nod to the city's name, began with the idea of a drop of water in a still pool, rings moving ever outward.

The Conservancy says over 700,000 people visit Rosa Parks Circle each year, and "the artwork and park were never intended to bear that much usage", so renovation is needed. They hope to "restore, elevate, and preserve Ecliptic for the next century."

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Townsquare Media
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According to Wood TV 8, the project, which is both publicly and privately funded, will add new lighting, and renovate park structures like the amphitheater, seating, and the bathrooms with more durable materials.

Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2021 and be completed on Sept. 6, 2021, which will be the 20th anniversary of the Rosa Parks Circle original dedication.

Find more information on the project and fundraising effort here.

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