HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — A groundbreaking ceremony for the final phase of the City of Allegan’s riverfront redevelopment project is set for 10 a.m. today, Aug. 10, 2018.
The final phase, named The Perrigo Riverfront Plaza, will include a splash pad, large fire pit, and new landscaping, as well as a shade structure and picnic area.
Allegan City Manager Joel Dye said the downtown transformation is a fitting blend of the city and Perrirgo, because the company and its employees have “long been a champion of Allegan’s efforts to build a thriving community.”
He acknowledged Perrigo’s financial support for expanding the project.
Perrigo executive vice president, CIO and president of Perrigo’s charitable foundation, Tom Farrington, noted the company’s roots go back to its founding in 1887 in Allegan.
“Since then, our company has grown alongside this community, and many of our employees who call Allegan home,” he said. “Partnering on this project is our way of giving back to the residents and families who live here.”
Perrigo donated to Allegan’s Public Library and the splash pad.
Allegan’s riverfront redevelopment so far has included a performance stage, seating areas, park improvements, a canoe/kayak launch, and a zip line over the Kalamazoo River, with support from Perrigo.
The complete project stretches from behind the Allegan Public Library all the way to the historic Iron Bridge along the Kalamazoo River. The American Society of Civil Engineers awarded the project its 2017 Quality of Life Project of the Year for Michigan.
Work on the Perrigo Riverfront Plaza is set to finish this fall, and will be marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community celebration.
