As part of its ongoing effort to encourage and improve mobility and accessibility in the district, the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority agreed to spend $41,100 on new parking equipment for bicycles.

“This is a new program and we’re very excited to do this,” said DDA Project Manager Eric Pratt.

The funds will be used to install up to 90 new bicycle-parking U-racks and four new on-street parking corrals at various locations throughout downtown.

Pratt said the entire installation should be completed by the end of July.

Katerberg Verhage, a residential and commercial landscaping firm located on Michigan Street NE, will begin furnishing and installing the U-racks and corrals as soon as its contract is reviewed by the DDA’s legal counsel, Dick Wendt. Katerberg Verhage was one of two firms that responded to the DDA’s request for bids.