RIVER FOR ALL

PARKS AND TRAILS

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.

Ah-Nab-Awen Park

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.

Features:

  • Large, open greenspace
  • Picnic areas
  • Public artwork
  • Public restrooms
  • Views of the Grand River


Location:
220 Front Avenue NW

The Blue Bridge

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

Canal Park runs along the eastern shore of the Grand River just north of Sixth Street Park.

Features:

  • Outdoor exercise equipment
  • Parking
  • Paved multi-use trail
  • Picnic areas
  • Playground
  • Public restrooms
  • Unobstructed views of the Grand River

Location: 941 Monroe Avenue NW

Coldbrook Edge Trail

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.

Features:

  • Overlook deck with seating
  • Paved multi-use trail
  • Unobstructed views of the Grand River

Location: 1177 Monroe Avenue NW

Fish Ladder Park

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.”

Features:

  • Easy access to the Grand River
  • Parking
  • Restrooms

Location: 606 Front Avenue NW

Oxford Trail

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.

Features:

  • Paved multiuse trails
  • Views of the Grand River

Location: 772 Oxford Street Southwest

Riverside Park

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.

Features:

  • Boat launches
  • Ball diamond
  • Disc golf
  • Fishing
  • Playgrounds
  • Parking
  • Paved biking and walking trail
  • Restrooms
  • Soccer Fields
  • 100+ acres

Location: 2001 Monroe Avenue NE

Sixth Street Park

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.

Features:

  • Outdoor exercise equipment
  • Parking
  • Paved multi-use trails
  • Picnic areas
  • Open greenspace
  • Views of the Grand River

Location: 647 Monroe Avenue NW

555 Monroe

The waterfront property at 555 Monroe Avenue in Downtown Grand Rapids served parking lot for decades. Now the nearly 4-acre site emerges as the epicenter of the local movement to revitalize the Grand River as a recreational place for people.
 
Grand Rapidians envision 555 Monroe as a central gathering spot at the water’s edge – a space that eventually offers front row seats to enjoy the namesake “rapids” the community aspires to restore in the Grand River.
 
While the incredibly complex work of returning whitewater rapids to the river and building a new park will take years to complete, 555 Monroe currently presents a real “lighter, quicker, cheaper” opportunity to experiment with new and fun ways to reinvent.
 
Currently, the space is home to Downtown GR’s newest and only skate and bike facility. The 14,000 sq ft facility designed by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. in partnership with the City of Grand Rapids and AGA Nation, which specializes in designing and building mobile action sports facilities. The facility features a diverse array of structures, including banked ramps, concrete slabs and rails for grinding
 
Location: 555 Monroe Avenue NW