Visiting parks and trails is a great way to reconnect with the Grand River. The City of Grand Rapids has more than 200 river edge park acres and 7 miles of river edge trails on both the west and east sides of the water.
Once the grounds of a Native American village meaning “Resting Place,” this downtown park is home to multiple public art installations, events, a river edge path and the memorials of former President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford.
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Location: 220 Front Avenue NW
The Blue Bridge is an iconic pedestrian bridge over the Grand River. It connects Front Avenue NW on the west side of the river to Campau Avenue NW on the east side. The Blue Bridge is home to many events, including ArtPrize installations, free summer fitness classes and wedding ceremonies.
Location: Off Front Avenue NW
Canal Park runs along the eastern shore of the Grand River just north of Sixth Street Park.
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Location: 941 Monroe Avenue NW
What was once a narrow dirt path is now an important river edge trail connector. The scenic quarter-mile mile stretch of paved trail between Canal Park and Leonard Street brings the Grand River Edges Trail closer to a complete connection to the larger White Pine Trail.
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Location: 1177 Monroe Avenue NW
Fish Ladder Park is a functional piece of architectural artwork designed by Joseph Kinnerbrew. Its practical use allows migrating fish to find a way around the powerful water flow from the Grand River. During the spring and late summer, you can watch the fish jump up the “ladder.”
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Location: 606 Front Avenue NW
The Oxford Street Trail is a 3-mile trail connecting Roberto Clemente Park, the Black Hills and John Ball Park neighborhoods and the Kent Trails system which takes users south to Millennium Park and beyond. The trail includes a bridge over Chestnut Street and a renovated railroad trestle over the Grand River and Market Avenue SW.
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Location: 772 Oxford Street Southwest
Riverside Park is a sprawling urban park that stretches along the Grand River from Knapp Street NE to I-96. The paved multi-use trail winding through the park is part of the White Pine Trail.
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Location: 2001 Monroe Avenue NE
Sixth Street Park is a linear park along the banks of the Grand River. The park is directly south of the historic Sixth Street Bridge.
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Location: 647 Monroe Avenue NW
