Grand River Dam Removal Begins

work begins in the Grand River (photo from Fox 17)

compiled from several sources

Removal has begun of four low-head dams that were contructed in the Grand River, Michigan, about a century ago. The four dams essentially smoothed the rapids for which the city was named.

Now, after 20 years of planning, the rapids will be restored. Work is beginning with the placement of barriers called turbidity curtains to control sediment. The entire project will take approximately two years. Boulders will be added to recreate the actual rapids.

Also, the machines are using plant-based hydraulic fluid to help protect the environment.

The end goal is to restore a more natural waterway which is safer for recreation, better for fish passage and more closely resembles the rapids that gave Grand Rapids its name.

For now, a downstream dam at Sixth Street will remain in place. It serves as a barrier to keep lamprey from traveling up the waterway. The design of a new structure to restrict the lamprey has not been selected, and that part of the project will probably not be undertaken until at least 2028.

See more at Fox 17
See Grand River's Rapids to be Restored


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Grand Rapids Extending Riverwalk

Riverwalk construction (photo by Matt Witkos)

from Fox 17

Grand Rapids, Michigan, officials say the primary goal of the Riverwalk is to build a connection throughout the community. This new section will complete trail from Riverside Park to Fulton Street providing non-motorized connections between many businesses, recreation and entertainment venues.

The original plan was for the trail to be partially completed this spring, but the timeline is now pushed to autumn. Custom playground equipment is on order, and an all-season pavilion is being added.

The trail will also serve as a flood buffer from the Grand River.

A future project could connect the trail to the new Acrisure Amphitheater. This would be a part of the proposed Three Towers downtown development.

See more about the Grand Rapids Riverwalk


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Grand Rapids Students Take to the River

Grand Rapids student canoeists (still from a video by Spectrum News)

from Spectum News

For the eighth year, Grand Rapids (Michigan) Public Schools has been giving students a chance to experience paddling on the Grand River. More than 900 young people have canoed this week, most for the first time in their lives.

The kids also rotate through manning land stations where they may monitor invasive plants, study native plants, test water quality and learn invertebrate counting, or even try boat building.

The land stations are operated by community partners who volunteer their time. This year's partners include Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., John Ball Zoo, the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds, Camp Newaygo, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' Environmental Health Bureau, and the City's sustainability and water departments.

Educators agree that this is a real opportunity for outdoor education. "Kids...can connect directly with the natural resources that surround our community and better understand their importance," stated School Superintendent Dr. Leadriane Roby. Teachers are enthusiastic and hope the program will continue


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Northland Drive Pedestrian Tunnel Groundbreaking

concept of approach and Northland Dirve tunnel at upper right (graphic from Kent County Parks)

from Michigan Trails Magazine

A ceremony Saturday morning marked the start of construction on a new pedestrian tunnel under Northland Drive (Kent County, Michigan)— creating a safer, stronger connection to the emerging South Rogue River Trail and the growing Grand River Greenway.

“This groundbreaking represents more than the start of construction—it’s about connection,” said Kent County Parks Department Director Ben Swayze. “We are connecting communities, parks and people while removing a significant safety barrier along one of the busiest roads in northern Kent County. This project brings us one step closer to a seamless regional trail network that improves quality of life and expands access to the outdoors for residents of all ages and abilities.”.

Once complete, this effort will help link a 23-mile stretch from Millennium Park to Lowell, bringing us closer to the Grand River and to each other.

Thanks to our Kent County leadership and many community partners for bringing this vision—funded entirely through $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars awarded through a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant to Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.—to life!

Construction will take place in phases, with completion anticipated in late fall 2026

See South Rogue River Trail


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Grand River Edges Connection

Grand River Edges connection concept (graphic from Grand River Network)

from Grand River Network

This project will close a major gap in the regional non-motorized Grand River Greenway trail system by linking Downtown Grand Rapids to Riverside Park and, by extension, the White Pine Trail State Park. It's length is about 0.75 mile.

This will be a new 12-ft wide multi-use trail on the east bank of the Grand River from Leonard St to Ann St, including safe at-grade street crossings, lighting, benches and signage.

Construction is set to begin spring 2026, and be completed by fall. The cost is $9.1 million, with funding coming from: City of Grand Rapids, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Transportation, American Rescue Plan Act (via Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources), and private partners

See trail site plan


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Blandford Nature Center is Free in April

Blandford Nature Center sign (photo from Blandford Nature Center)

from Blandford Nature Center Facebook

Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, says that April is an amazing time to watch spring unfold around you, and this month, admission to BNC is completely FREE! Thanks to our sponsor Lake Michigan Credit Union, you can come look for frogs, listen for birds, and watch the leaves emerge! What's something you're going to do during your Blandford visit this month?

Blandford Nature Center is a community-owned non-profit nature center. Our mission is to engage & empower our community through enriching experiences in nature.

1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI

See more at Blandford Nature Center


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Grand River's Rapids to be Restored

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low head dam on the Grand River (photo from the EPA)

from a news article at MLive

Work will begin in the summer of 2026 to remove the four dams on the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. This will restore the rapids, the historic source of the city's name.

Each dam is low, but they have effectively smoothed the river surface. However, the strong hydraulic force at each dam makes recreational uses unsafe. Removal will return the waterway to a more natural state and recreational opportunities such as kayaking, tubing, angling, and wading will once again be possible.

Over 100 boulders will be placed in the river to improve habitat for fish. The primary goal of the project is to restore aquatic habitat diversity and suitability for native Great Lakes fish and mussel species.

Ah-Nab-Awen Park will be closed for two years during the construction, as it will be used for staging. Total cost of the project will be about $26 million.

See more at Michigan Public Radio


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Pedestrian Walkway over 28th Street Open

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28th St Pedestrian Bridge (photo by Isaac Ritchey)

from a news article at M-Live

The first ever elevated pedestrian crossing over 28th St in Wyoming, Michigan is open (Grand Rapids area SW). The bridge officially opened on Sept. 27, 2025, and extends over 28th Street on Hook Avenue SW. The $7.4 million project was fully funded by state and federal grants.

The bridge and a stretch of wooden boardwalk connects to 4.6 miles of new trails recently built by the city of Wyoming. Fully accessible and open to pedestrians and bicycles, the structure is 600 feet long. It connects Wyoming's Trail 3 with Pinery Park. The pedestrian bridge is part of Wyoming’s broader City Center project, an initiative to develop a downtown area off of 28th Street between Burlingame and Clyde Park avenues.

See additional photos and a video at the link above.


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Johnson Park Bike Path Extension

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concept map (graphic from Kent County Parks)- click to enlarge

from the West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance

Johnson Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan is soon to have an expanded mountain bike trail. Dan Frayer, president of West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance states he's "confident this is going the be the best trail in all of West Michigan." The existing trail of six miles will be expanded to eight miles. It will be professionally built by Spectrum Trail Design with rock drops, rollers, and dirt jumps. It will have the largest vertical drop (130 feet) of any trail in the WMMBA system.

Johnson Park is a 224-acre property located in the City of Walker. It was established in 1928 and it is one of the oldest parks in the Kent County Park System. Johnson Park is known for its 1930s enclosed shelter, the 1 mile plus scenic drive (now pedestrian pathway) that winds through the park, its proximity to the Grand River and Millennium Park, and the open recreation it provides. Positioned in the urban core of the County, Johnson Park serves a diverse range of residents and visitors.

Fundraising for the project is about half completed, and work is already begun.

Watch video of riding the trail


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Grand Rapids Renewal Will Be More Pedestrian Friendly

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concept drawing of renewal area (from Grand Rapids)

compiled from several sources

Division Avenue, north of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan will be rebuilt to be less car-centric and more user friendly for pedestrians and non-motorized travel. It will include vibrant greenspaces and hillside access.

The cost is projected to be $4.3 million, coming from the state. Six communities were selcted for a Michigan Talent Partnership Program placemaking grant by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

The Division and Ionia Avenue improvements will start at the Belknap Park area and run south to the highway. Monroe Avenue south of Leonard Street down to I-196 is included. The stairway from Fairbanks Street to Division Avenue will be repaired and pedestrian crossings throughout the area improved.

This area of Grand Rapids was selected because of a high concentration of young residents.

The other five cities awarded grants are Lansing, Mt. Pleasant, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Houghton.

See Crain's Grand Rapids Business (subscription required to read full article)


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Grand Rapids Nature Day

Events Calendar

Nature Day (photo from city of Grand Rapids)

compiled from several sources

Attend Grand Rapids Downtown Market on Saturday, February 25, 2026, and bring the kids. It's Nature Day, an annual event where Michigan wildlife organizations bring animals for people to interact with.

Blandford Nature Center, Grand Rapids Area Bee Club, Grand Rapids Public Library, Humane Society of West Michigan, N&N Exotic Reptiles Rescue, West Michigan Wildlife, John Ball Zoo, Casa La Parrot, Grand Rapids Public Museum, and more will participate. See the critters up close, learn about animal artifacts, and enjoy Greenhouse activities—then enjoy some lunch from the Market Hall.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., visit the Grand Rapids Downtown Market’s greenhouse event space to enjoy up-close interactions with several wildlife animal ambassadors from various nearby partners. In addition to live animals, there will be things like pelts and bones to feel and observe. The event is free. Grand Rapids Downtown Market is located at 435 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan

See Nature Day


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Grand Rapids World of Winter Walking/ Biking Opportunities

Events Calendar

snow snakes (photo from Hey Michigan)

based on a web article from Hey Michigan

The World of Winter Festival 2026 kicks off on January 9, 2026 and runs until March 1. The event is primarily a self-motivated walking tour to see dozens of art installations scattered throughout downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. It bills itself as the largest free winter festival in the United States. To enjoy art of all kinds, food, and economic stimulation are the primary pursuits.

However, there are several planned activities which fall more into the hiking or outdoor recreation category.

There is an ongoing scavenger hunt with weekly prizes. This is open to individuals or teams. The hunt can be completed at your own pace during festival hours. Missions take approximately 1–2 hours to complete and points earned enter you into weekly prize draws. Teams can consist of any number of participants. A mobile device with the GooseChase app is required

A number of guided walks to various art istallations are being offered. The event calendar lists more dates than the event links. The certain dates for these are:
• January 23, 6-7 pm. Meet at Rosa Parks Circle. Led by Candice Smith who will share the stories and inspiration behind each piece. Free. No registration needed.
• February 6- same info as above.
• February 14- same info as above.
• February 26- same info as above.
• February 21- 3-4 pm. Meet at Rosa Parks Circle. Window display walking tour. Learn the stories behind each installation, meet the creative minds behind the art, and discover the businesses and historic buildings that host them.
• Other dates for guided walks are listed on the pdf calendar, but no information is available about them.

There is a luminary group bike ride to explore Grand Rapids by bike under luminary lights! This is free and open to riders 18 and older. Helmets are required. Post-ride celebration is also free. See complete details at Luminary Bike Ride

Also of possible interest to outdoor enthusiasts is a Snow Snake competition. This will be held February 28 from 11 am - 4 pm. Experience a traditional northern Native American winter game at this thrilling Snow Snake Competition. Competitors slide handcrafted “snow snakes” down a long snow trough, aiming for the farthest throw.

Participants of all ages can compete in brackets, and the overall winner takes home a $1,000 grand prize. Practice snakes are available for beginners, making this event fun for spectators and first-time throwers alike. Register on-site. Event held at Sixth Stree Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Cost not stated.

See World of Winter official website


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85-Mile Grand River Greenway Project On Track

Events Calendar

Grand River Greenway in Grand Rapids (photo from the Grand River Network)

compiled from various sources

Three decades ago, leaders in Ottawa and Kent Counties, Michigan, envisioned a trail that would follow the Grand River from Lowell to Lake Michigan. The Grand is Michigan's longest river at 252 miles.

An overall vision for what this project could be, and long-range planning are bringing the concept closer to reality. The Grand River Greenway is not one single project. Multiple partners are working together to connect individual segments to create a continuous pathway.

Several segments are currently under construction or are recently completed.

The Bayou Segment of the Idema Explorer Trail in Grand Haven is open, including a 14-foot-wide, multi-use pedestrian bridge over Stearns Bayou. “This will complete a 13-mile-long route from the end of the Grand Haven pier to Riverside Park, connecting several Greenway parks together while also establishing the longest continuous section of the trail to date,” said Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission President Kelly Rice.

Work has continued on the Bass River Segment from Riverside Park in Robinson Township to the Bass River State Recreation Area in Allendale Township. This portion of the greenway is in progress and will be 7.4 miles long.

The Eastmanville Connector Segment continues another 3 miles to the east, and has been funded by the Natural Resources Trust Fund.

By the end of 2026 several portions and related projects are expected to be complete:
• New trail connections in Kent County from White Pine Trail State Park to downtown Ada
• New trail connections in Ottawa County to and through Bass River State Recreation Area
• Expanded year-round recreational amenities at Johnson Park
• Dam removal and habitat restoration in the Grand River to restore the rapids. Sea lamprey barriers will be installed
• New river access and public space in the Market Avenue corridor of downtown Grand Rapids

overview map of the Greenway (from the Grand River Greenway Framework for Vision and Action)

$150 million of work will be completed in 2026, funded by both public and private dollars, including American Rescue Act funds, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Natural Resources Trust Fund, and philanthropic donations.

The full Grand River Greenway project is expected to be completed by 2031.

See the Grand River Greenway Framework for Vison and Action, a pdf


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Oxford Trail in Grand Rapids Will Connect Neighborhoods

Events Calendar

groundbreaking in September (a still from video footage

from a news release of Fox 17 online and other sources

Construction began in September 2025 to revamp and improve the Grand Rapids, Michigan, Oxford Trail.

This $9 million project will connect Roosevelt Park, the Black Hills and downtown Grand Rapids. Links to other trails are an important part of the effort. The trail will connect with the Grand River Greenway which will eventually stretch from Lake Michigan to Lowell. First will be rehabilitation of the existing trail segment from Wealthy St (west of the Grand River) into the Black Hills neighborhood. There are proposed extensions to Hall St, Kent Trails, and Millennium Park.

Possible future connections are to Plaster Creek Trail, Garfield Park, and Burton Heights neighborhoods.

The trail will be non-motorized and multi-use.

Funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act and a DNR grant to Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.

See renderings of the proposed Oxford Trail improvements


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Calvin Ecosystem Preserve Adds Large Rock Garden

Calvin University Puddingstone (photo by Kent Ratajeski)

compiled from various sources

Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, hosts a 44-acre Ecosystem Preseve. Along with an adjacent research area (not open to the public), the preserve offers both recreational and educational opportunities. There are 1.7 miles of trails, available only for hiking with no pets. Open 7 am till dusk.

The preserve is inhabited by 260 species of plants, including several trees approaching 250 years old and the smallest plant in the world, called watermeal. Many animals, including 18 species of amphibians and reptiles, 179 bird species, and 27 species of mammals have been identified in the preserve.

Now the university has added a large rock garden near the entrance at East Beltline Avenue. The garden features a variety of Michigan rocks. The centerpiece is a 16,000-pound puddingstone. Puddingstone is more usually found in the Upper Peninsula, but it all was brought here from Ontario by the glaciers.

Kent Ratajeski posted a picture of the rock on Facebook, and people immediately began to travel to see the massive stone. Ratajeski serves as director of the Bruce Dice Mineralogical Museum at Calvin University, and is also an educator.

Various classes will take advantage of having larger specimens to study than can be handled in a classroom. Additionally, this rock garden will focus on rocks rather than serving as a matrix for rare plants. Climbers are welcome, and kids are loving the "playground."

The garden was made possible by a donation from Thelma Venema, a lifelong lover of geology and rocks.

See a brochure of the trail system


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Grand Rapids Mountain Bike Park - Visit Jan 16

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based on a news article at the Grand Rapids Press

Thanks to the recent MX races staged Van Andel Arena, construction will begin soon at the recently approved Plaster Creek mountain bike trail location. 500 yards of dirt from the motorized event has been purchased, and will be moved to the former Southwest Little League site at 580 Kirtland St. SW, on Monday January 11.

"That dirt will become the pump track," the president of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, Nate Phelps, explained.

The International Mountain Bike Association is helping to plan the new tracks, through a grant worth $15,000 which brings a consultant to the Grand Rapids site for a week. The dirt will be used to build a pump track with sculpted mounds forming roller, moguls, and banked turns. Plans for the site also include a beginner trail, and an advanced trail.

On Jan 16, at 11 am, Phelps, Jason Wells of IMBA, and local riders will be at the site to welcome visitors to an open house. They will be glad to show off the construction progress and explain the plans.

Construction will be continued as weather permits, with most of the work being done this coming spring.

See Western MMBA
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Tom Springer - Looking for Hickories - In GR Tuesday

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from several sources

The author of Looking for Hickories: The Forgotten Wildness of the Rural Midwest will take you on a sensory journey. You are invited to "taste sweet samples of serviceberry jam, smell aromatic sassafrass root, and see and touch the rough texture of the virgin bur oak tree and other natural artifacts found in Michigan." Tom Springer shares from his award-winning book Tuesday evening, Nov. 3, at the Grand Rapids Meijer Gardens, 7 p.m. The event is free for Meijer Gardens Members and GRAHC members, others pay regular admission.

Springer currently is a senior editor at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek. Looking for Hickories is a Library of Michigan 2009 Michigan Notable Book. It is described as "a masterfully written collection that establishes a new voice for the spirit of the upper Midwest and Michigan and offers a fresh look at the landscape as well as the everyday lives of the people who make up the region's small communities."

Springer is a well-known nature and outdoor travel writer. His articles have appeared in such publications as Backpacker, Michigan Out-of-Doors, and Notre Dame, and several of his commentaries have appeared on National Public Radio programs.

See University of Michigan Press
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GR Mountain Bike Park to be Built Near Plaster Creek

location of new trail

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based on a news article at M-Live

The former Southwest Little League park at 580 Kirtland St, SW, Grand Rapids will be transformed to a mountain bike park. The City Commission unanimously approved the plan.

Nate Phelps, president of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, expects that the first skills area will be ready to go before next summer. This section will be about 1.5 miles in length, and is to be located on the former baseball diamond.

In the center of the area is the Helmets-On BMX course, and the new trails will follow the perimeter of the property. Working out the agreements has taken some time. The Michigan Mountain Biking Association wanted to ensure that it will be a public park. This required that the BMX group return their lease to the city

"It's a match made in heaven to have the bicycle motocross people and mountain bikers all at one park," Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation director Jay Steffen said. The West Michigan Chapter of the MMBA will spearhead the development of the trail and the maintenance.

See MMBA
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Kayak Accident Has Good Outcome

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based on a news article at WZZM TV

Yet another recreational boating accident in west Michigan occurred about 4 pm today on the Grand River, in downtown Grand Rapids. In this case, two kayakers, identified only as a middle-aged couple, nearly lost their lives.

The kayaks were being paddled above the low dam near DeVos Center, but apparently did not realize that the dam was there, or the danger. Nearby fishermen in a boat called to them to watch out, but they were unable to warn the kayakers in time.

When they saw the kayaks go over the dam and tip, their boat was the only one nearby in the river, and the fisherman quickly came to the rescue. They were able to pull the man and woman from the water and deliver them to the shore.

The woman was apparently unconscious, but was revived by paramedics. Both were transported to the hospital and their conditions are reported to be non-life threatening.

Just four days ago a canoeist died on the Kalamazoo River. Earlier this year a kayaker on the Red Cedar River (Lansing) was able to call for help because he had carefully packed his cell phone in a waterproof bag, and in September a sailboat capsized near Muskegon, but the sailor was rescued. Small craft recreation is highly popular but the risks should not be taken lightly.

Even experienced boaters and swimmers would be wise to wear a life vest. Know the waterway you are traveling. Remember that the colder water of spring and fall can be more deadly. Practice handling your craft in calm water until you are capable of attempting more risky outings. Learn what to do when capsized in both moving and still water.

Follow the link above to see pictures at WZZM.

See Canoeing Wife Aids Husband's Capsized Sailboat
See Kayaker Rescued With Use of Cell Phone
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Grand Rapids to Get New Mountain Bike Track

(photo Grand Rapids press)

based on a news article in the Grand Rapids Press, "Grand Rapids mountain bike trial, skills area to be built this summer around BMX park," by Howard Myerson, Apr 4, 2009

A mountain bike trail and skills area are planned for the former southwest Little League site in Grand Rapids, at 580 Kirtland. This is already the location of a BMX bike track operated by Helmet-On.

Michigan Mountain Bikers and Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation department have been working toward this day for three years. The trail is slated to become a reality in May. The park will explore new territory for Grand Rapids in more ways than one. The trail will be maintained by the Michigan Mountain Bikers Association (MMBA), in a cooperative agreement between the city and volunteers.

MMBA President,Nate Phelps, the former president of the West Michigan chapter of Michigan Mountain Bikers Association, said it will be a win-win situation for cyclists and the city. "We're going to build a little skill section with things like a log pile and rock garden that riders can bypass, a short trail, maybe a mile-and-half long and double lane pump track." The new trail will be built around an existing BMX trail creating an multi-purpose bicycle park.

$15,000 of in-kind support will come from the International Mountain Biking Association which offers assistance for projects it calls "Gateway Trails," or trails built in urban settings.

"The Midwest Mountain Biking Summit will be held in Grand Rapids on May 28-31," Phelps said. "We want the pump track to be done by that time."

See Grand Rapids Biking Map
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