Grand Rapids discontinues some synthetic pesticide use along Grand River to reduce chemical runoff Updated Apr 20, 2021; Posted Apr 20, 2021 View of downtown Grand Rapids from River House Condos on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. The greenspace along the river on the right side are the city's Sixth Street and Canal parks. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Facebook Share GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids plans this spring to stop using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers at two of its riverside parks in an effort to reduce chemical runoff and make a cleaner Grand River. The change is coming to Sixth Street and Canal parks along Monroe Avenue north of I-196, and the city will work with Midwest Grows Green, a nonprofit sustainable landscaping initiative, to implement the natural lawn care.