An effort to bring back the rapids, headed up by non-profit Grand Rapids Whitewater, isn’t born of nostalgia for a free river—at least not entirely. The project, which has raised $33 million and plans to begin removing the first of five dams in 2020, began with a focus on removing dams to create downtown whitewater recreation opportunities like rafting, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, Matt Chapman, project manager for Grand Rapids Whitewater, told EHN. The river restoration project is part of a decade-long reinvigoration of downtown Grand Rapids that has harmed certain parts of the community, Ryan VerWys, president and CEO of Inner City Christian Federation, which works for affordable housing in Grand Rapids, told EHN.