Grand Rapids renames streets in honor of civil rights heroes

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.) Two cross streets in Grand Rapids have new names in honor of civil rights leaders Céasar E. Chávez and Martin Luther King Jr. 

Paul Chávez (son of Céasar E. Chávez), Reverend Dr. Derek King (nephew of Martin Luther King Jr.), and Moving Ahead for Remarkable Civil Rights Heroes (M.A.R.C.H), joined local leaders and community members for the renaming ceremony Tuesday afternoon. 

What was formerly known as Grandville Avenue SW is now known as Céasar E. Chávez between Clyde Park Avenue SW and Weston Street SW. 

The portion of Franklin Street between Oakland Avenue SW and the boundary with East Grand Rapids is now Martin Luther King Jr. Street.

“As the City’s first Grand Rapids Latina Commissioner, this brings me a lot of joy to be able to rename these streets for these two civil rights heroes,” said Grand Rapids Second Ward City Commissioner Milinda Ysasi. 

“We had everyone in mind when we proposed the renaming of these two streets," said the Honorable Lupe Ramos-Montigny, M.A.R.C.H co-chair. "These two civil rights heroes truly made an impact all over the world and now that impact flows into the streets of Grand Rapids."

The work to change these cross streets began last year when the M.A.R.C.H committee submitted the proposal to the Grand Rapids City commission. 

City commissioners approved the name changes for the streets back in October. 

The City of Grand Rapids informed residents living along these streets the addresses of their homes were updated for utility bills, navigation services, and USPS purposes.