A $4-million project to engineer the Great Miami River downtown to encourage water sports got a boost with Monday’s announcement of a $200,000 grant from The Dayton Foundation.

The River Run Project is the next phase of development at RiverScape MetroPark. It’ll remove the hazardous Monument Avenue low dam and replace it with two safe, scenic drops designed for paddling sports.

The river project has secured a $1-million challenge grant from the James M. Cox Foundation and is the top priority of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan because of its potential economic impact.

“It is so critical to the development and the implementation of the plan for our region’s core,” said Jerry Tatar, chair of the Foundation’s grants committee and Foundation Board chair-elect.

“We are thrilled The Dayton Foundation is helping move this project forward,” Mike Ervin, co-chairman of the Downtown Dayton Partnership and Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, said. “This project is critical to a vibrant downtown, but it is much more. It will contribute to the economic development of our entire region, whether you live in Tipp City or Centerville.”

Ervin added: “We’re very pleased with the progress toward fundraising for the River Run Project and other initiatives of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan. It’s exciting that so many businesses, organizations and individuals understand how important it is for the overall prosperity of our region.”

Ervin said he hopes to have most of the funding lined up by year’s end. “I’m optimistic we will get there,” he said Monday. “We’ve hand nothing but positive responses from the organizations we’ve worked with.”