RIVER FOR ALL

Did someone say Lake Sturgeon in the Grand River?! Juvenile sturgeon were discovered in the Grand River. The discovery confirmed the Grand River's status as a potential spawning ground for Lake Sturgeon! 😱

Please think hard before gifting this elusive species to your loved ones this holiday season.

is right around the corner! Many of these incredible interactive art installations will find their way to a river edge park this winter. Visit the link below to learn more ❄

Another exciting river edge project started this week! The Grand Rapids Public Museum kicked off their $50M expansion, which will enhance its outdoor exhibit space to include event space, hands-on science stations, river access, and new educational opportunities along the improved walkways and trails.

This project is a major achievement in equitable access to the river, river edge activation, and expansion of learning opportunities for the community 🎉 Learn more at grpm.org/expansion

Last week, The City of Grand Rapids, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. and community partners broke ground on improvements at Lyon Square! The redesigned space is the kickoff to a series of major river edge renovations and will include a covered river overlook, accessibility improvements, added greenspace, and seating.

The design goals for this project are to:
1. Create a flexible, four-season space
2. Establish a memorable destination that promotes engagement and inclusion
3. Create a comfortable shared place for pedestrians and vehicles
This project is possible thanks to a partnership between our department, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority and adjacent property owners.

Design team: Progressive AE
Construction team: Rockford Construction
Workforce development partner: Grand Rapids Community College

Photos and concept plans courtesy Shufi Subhan/Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.

An incredible new mural has been unveiled at Ah-Nab-Awen Park (under the Michigan Street Bridge). Check out "Bird is the Word" by George Eberhardt at 220 Front Ave NW 😍

GR Outside will be at Canal Park this weekend with $5/hour kayak rentals! All equipment and basic instruction provided.

Don’t miss our last Canal Park kayak rental event this summer! This Saturday from 12-4pm we’ll be at Return to the River x Pleasant Peninsula hosted by Downtown GR Inc.

More kayaking opportunities available in our bio.

Check out these river edge fitness classes from City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation!

Join forces with hundreds of volunteers next month to clean up the Grand River (also known as Owashtanong)! This free event hosted by West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) is celebrating 20 years and we're so grateful for the work that has been done and continues to be done.

Mayors' Grand River Cleanup - WMEAC September 9th – September 16th, 2023All participants please register using the form below! Registration Form Site Adoption 20th anniversary celebration + kickoff event When? Saturday, September 9, 20238am – 1pm […]

Baw-Wa-Ting, or, "the rapids," is a Michigan Historical Site located near Grand Valley State University's Eberhard Center. The site was listed in the registry in 2003 and subsequent markers went up in 2004. Below is the plaque language located on the marker.

Long before contact with Euro-Americans, Native Americans lived near Baw-wa-ting, “the rapids.” Some 2000 years ago Hopewellian Indians built numerous burial mounds in the area. This mound group became known as the Converse Mounds. As early as the 18th century Ottawa Indians lived near the rapids at a village called Noaquageshik. Ojibwa and Potawatomi also lived in this vicinity. The development of Grand Rapids during the late 19th century destroyed the burial mounds; however, archaeological excavations in 1999 revealed occupations dating back more than 3000 years, as well as evidence of an 18th and 19th century Native American presence. In 2000 the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians worked with Grand Valley State University to establish this park on the site of their ancestors’ village.

Chi–shosh-guh Chi-muk-mon mean-wah A-nish-na-bek gee-daa-wuk Baw-wa-ting. Gah-guh mom-pee Ojibway meen-wah Potawatomi gee daa-wuk. A-nish-na-bek gee-shi-tun kih geeb-yuk nin-waa-kan. Nin-wuk gee beeg-beh-dune kih geeb-yuk nin-waa-dan. Wa-nike wa-ban-daa A-nish-na-bek gee nuk-kee chi-shosh-guh. Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians meen-waw Grand Valley State University gee Shi-tun Ah-nab-awen. Mom-pee gee daw-wuk gah-cah-yuk A-nish-na-bek o-dena.

Mark your calendars!

*record scratch*
"Yup, that's me. You're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation."

Chinook and Coho salmon migrate soon! You can watch them climb at Fish Ladder Park in the fall, typically between early September and late October.

Exercise with a view! City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. partnered in 2019 to install six outdoor exercise stations in Sixth Street and Canal Parks. The stations include elliptical machines, chest and leg press, airwalkers, a pull up bar and a hand cycler 💪

In 2021, this portion of the river edge walk near Fish Ladder Park was reconstructed thanks to the Downtown Development Authority and City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation.

These improvements made the river's edge safer and more accessible for everyone.

We love an activated river and riverfront 💙 Global Water Fest Grand Rapids

A new large scale mural is on the river's edge 🤩

Good morning GR 💙

🐟

Experience the river up-close and personal with guided adventures with City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation's GR Outside division! All equipment and training is provided.

Stay safe out there!

🌷Spring Spotlight: Fish Ladder Park
In the coming weeks, Fish Ladder Park (606 Front Ave NW) will burst into a spectacular spring bloom! These photos were taken in late April/early May of last year.

Rain garden appreciation post✨

We ♥ Sturgeon art

Valentine's Day Tip from a Belted Kingfisher:
"Need to spice things up this year? Try feeding live fish caught fresh from the river to your partner. Works every time." ♥

So excited for this project! 👏👏

"The expansion will build outdoor gathering areas near the river, open up the option for tours in the museum collections and improve accessibility."

We're excited for this exciting project at Grand Rapids Public Museum to kick off! Together, we're creating a true

GRPM expansion to increase access to Grand River, create more learning opportunities The expansion will build outdoor gathering areas near the river, open up the option for tours in the museum collections and improve accessibility.

A new river-inspired mural has arrived in Heartside Park in the form of an all-season restroom 🎨

We love a good sunset on the river💙

Phot by on Instagram

Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.'s World of Winter festival kicks off today! There are tons of public art installations along the river's edge to explore ❄

Here are just a few:
Starry Night at Ah-Nab-Awen Park
Angels of Freedom on the Blue Bridge
Messie near the Gillett Bridge
Rainbow Tree at Sixth St Park
Massimals on the Blue Bridge
Manidoo Bawating at Sixth St Park
Tropical Tundra at Ah-Nab-Awen Park
Talking Heads on the Gillett Bridge

See all activities, including food truck rallies, human Hungry Hungry Hippos, silent discos, and more at www.worldofwintergr.com

We're excited for these important improvements to the river edge trail 🌊

Many of our regional trails are along the river's edge. Let West Michigan Trails know which design you prefer for their future regional wayfinding design. The consistency of design throughout the region will create a more accessible and usable trail system, no matter where you decide to explore!

Good morning from Lyon Square ☀ Did you know this space is set for a transformation starting next spring?

Plans for Lyon Square include flexible community gathering and event spaces, an improved river overlook, improved lighting and accessibility, and additional landscaping/garden space.

🍁❤

Photo by on Instagram