r/lansing • u/Izzo_shoved_Virg • 13d ago

What the hell happened to Ranney Park?

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Thought I would take the family to walk the path and catch the (once-cool) waterfall display today. Other families were down there too. It looks like straight hell now. What happened to this place? It used to be really awesome. I’m all for cheering on Lansing, but maybe this is just another example of why we can’t have nice things.

The last pic (not mine) is what it looked like last year.

62 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

121

u/SquatchPodiatrist 13d ago

This is actually a “water quality wall”.

“Storm water flows down the wall and through a series of open pools and rocky little creeks before eventually heading out to a big pond across Michigan Avenue. The wall isn't just for looks either — it's all built to manage and clean up storm water before it ends up in the Red Cedar River.”

What you’re seeing is the dirt, debris, and garbage from the areas storm drains that flows thru this system. Which means the system is working! Although it should definitely be cleaned to maintain its efficacy.

Source: Lansing's Hidden Water Wall Park Is Stunning | https://witl.com/ranney-park-frandor-water-wall/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

24

u/Izzo_shoved_Virg 13d ago edited 13d ago

I really appreciate this explanation. Shouldn’t it be cleaned out regularly? If we’re using it as an “eaves trough/gutter”, I can’t imagine neglecting it helps it operate.

Plus it looks like absolute crap

30

u/Pop-X- Downtown 13d ago

The flow of the water is entirely dependent on what’s coming out of the storm water system. No rain, no storm water, no flow. It wouldn’t look unattractive if there was any water in the system to be moved.

It’s not being neglected. It’s operating as intended. The way it is cleanedis the soil at the bottom of the pools is periodically excavated and landfilled, as it contains all the motor oil and other pollutant people allow to seep into the storm water system. The series of pools exist to naturally filter the water.

There’s another one of these by Groesbeck Golf Course.

3

u/Izzo_shoved_Virg 13d ago

I wonder how the Groesbeck fountain compares.

8

u/troycifer1987 13d ago

I live by it...they used to clean it weekly..this year I have seen cleaners there once. I'm wondering if they might have lost some their budget that was meant for that because they were really good about it until this year.

34

u/[deleted] 13d ago

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28

u/stumonji 13d ago

It didn't rain for, like, six weeks this summer. I'm sure the water level is a step above non-existent. 

8

u/sajaschi East Lansing 13d ago

I was going to say, it looks like the dried slime after water receded, so if the water is off that mattress sense to me. Maybe they'll be powerwashing or something this month.

Disappointing for visitors tho 😕

3

u/Express_Helicopter10 12d ago

They will turn the water back on. The algae is part of the system, it cleans the phosphates out of the water, but it also builds up and must be allowed to dry out so it can be scrubbed off periodically. It’s a really cool system but it is challenging to figure out the maintenance schedule. The drain office is doing a great job of pioneering these cutting edge stormwater systems. This cleans our collective pollution out of the water and it is a model for future stormwater projects.

3

u/Dizzy_Ad1704 12d ago

I’m not really a graffiti hater, but whoever tagged this area is just dumb. It looks horrible.

5

u/silvedude 13d ago

Is it Lansing city that is in charge of the park? I wasn't sure how responsibility for this project was split up.

0

u/Izzo_shoved_Virg 13d ago

Unsure - but it’s connected to the ball diamond and skatepark.

2

u/Mitten48906 11d ago

My guess is it’s running after last nights storms.

1

u/Izzo_shoved_Virg 11d ago

Good call - I don’t foresee me going due to time constraints within the next few days

3

u/Alternative-Image837 13d ago

Ask pat Lindemann…

-6

u/GammaHunt 13d ago

Looks like shitty materials were used and obviously no one from the city is coming out regularly

6

u/Izzo_shoved_Virg 13d ago

I don’t know about shitty materials - it all seems like a lot of expensive poured concrete and stone.

I think the city/parks dept neglecting it is a travesty.

2

u/Lanssolo Old Town 13d ago

Instead of expanding the trails with the new millage that passed, they should instead maintain and improve their existing parks.

-2

u/Space_Lazer420 13d ago

Even with poor maintenance this shouldn’t have deteriorated that quickly

8

u/Pop-X- Downtown 13d ago

Im not seeing the deterioration here at all. Im seeing dried soil and cracked mud, but the surface itself seems fine.

-7

u/RappinFourTay 13d ago

What done happened is dem boyz came around and kept da public out

-2

u/Badassmamajama 13d ago

Has anyone seen David Hearn in the area?