🌱 Bobcat Escapes Blandford Center + 3 Dozen Parks Projects In GR

Happy Monday, Grand Rapids! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening today.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and breezy. High: 40 Low: 21.

Here are the top 3 stories in Grand Rapids today:

1. A bobcat is on the loose after escaping from its enclosure at Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids. The 17-pound male bobcat named Apollo was last seen on the nature center’s property around 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17. The nature center stated that due to the bobcat's age and size, "it is not likely that Apollo will be a threat to humans or most animals." (MLive.com)
2. Grand Rapids officials have outlined more than three dozen parks projects either completed this year, underway, or upcoming. David Marquardt, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, updated the Grand Rapids City Commission on the projects at last week's meeting, saying the city invested $4.4 million in parks millage dollars this year with an additional $7.1 million in funding from grants and external organizations. The upcoming projects include a splash pad at Garfield Park, all-season restrooms at Heartside Park, a new restroom and picnic shelter at Riverside Park, and more. (MLive.com)
3. Mercy Health and behavioral health care provider Network180 plan to open a crisis center next year in Grand Rapids for people who need immediate care. The Behavioral Health Crisis Center will include a 24-hour, walk-in Crisis Stabilization Unit where people in a mental health crisis can access intensive treatment. Under the public-private partnership between the two organizations, Mercy Health will provide medical services and Network 180 will offer behavioral health care. (MiBiz: West Michigan Business News)

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Today in Grand Rapids:

• City Commission Meeting At East Grand Rapids Community Center (All Day)

From my notebook:

• Tickets for "Stinney: An American Execution and Turandot" at Opera Grand Rapids are on sale now. (Instagram)
• Nearly 250 children received a little extra holiday cheer at the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association gift distribution. (Facebook)
• A teacher at GR Ottawa Hills High School made a list of 70 books to diversify his students' library — and received a generous check to turn that dream into reality. (Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today! See you tomorrow morning for another update.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and as an assistant producer for a live-lit storytelling show in Chicago. She holds a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies from The University of Rhode Island. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.