Parks in Grand Rapids Michigan

Parks in Grand Rapids, Michigan come in all types and sizes and have something to offer for everyone. You’ll find natural parks where you can get away from the excitement of the city and hike into the woods, parks that host stellar community events and artwork, and parks that have so many different features and things to do—you can plan an entire day at one of them.

This Grand Rapids parks guide will help you find the perfect park for any occasion and help you discover new places to visit across the greater Grand Rapids area.

Disclaimer: Affiliate links are used which means if you purchase via my link I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you! I only recommend products I use and love!

Cover photo provided by Farmer’s Fotos.

Pin it!

Park Must-Haves!

Downtown Grand Rapids Parks

Ah-Nab-Awen Park

This 6.5-acre park in downtown Grand Rapids was the location of a Native American village. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is part of Ah-Nab-Awen Park, as well as several works of art. The park is primarily used to host Grand Rapids events, such as the July Fourth Fireworks and Celebration on the Grand River. Explore the Grand River riverfront and enjoy the lush green hills and great views of the Grand Rapids skyline across the water.

Looking for more places to visit in downtown Grand Rapids? Check out our Top Things to Do in Grand Rapids article!

Features:

• River
• Public Restrooms
• Artwork
• Gerald R. Ford Museum
• Event Space
• Free Wi-Fi

Other Downtown Grand Rapids Parks:

• Sixth Street Park
• Veteran Memorial Park
• Rosa Parks Circle
• Canal Park

North Grand Rapids Parks

Riverside Park

The Grand Rapids Riverside Park, also known as Comstock Riverside Park, has a lot of open space and shelters—great for events and large gatherings. Spend an afternoon playing disc golf, biking, or walking your dog along the Grand River. It’s a great place for watching your kiddos on the playground! Friday nights during the summer is Food Truck Fridays, with over ten local food trucks offering all kinds of delicious food and desserts.

Features:

• Ball Diamond
• Disc Golf
• Grills
• Lake
• River
• Paved Bike and Walking Trail
• Picnic Tables
• Playground
• Restrooms
• Soccer Field
• Walking Trail
• Free Public WiFi

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQWnzy8juDU/

Other North Grand Rapids Parks:

• Dwight Lydell Park
• Donald J Lamoreaux Park
• Aberdeen Park

Northeast Grand Rapids Parks

Provin Trails

Provin Trails Park lets you get out of the city and right into nature with just a 15-minute drive from downtown Grand Rapids. Located next to Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery, this natural undeveloped park is made up of interconnected hiking trail loops that meander through dense pine forest. There are public restrooms and, in the winter, the trails are open to cross country skiing.

Features:

• Hiking Trails
• Cross Country Skiing
• Public Restrooms

Versluis Park

Want to have a day at the beach without the drive to Lake Michigan’s shoreline? Versluis Park is on the shores of Versluis Lake in Plainfield Charter Township with a beautiful beach, roped-off swimming area, and a fishing pier. There are also multiple playgrounds and walking trails to check out after you’ve hit the beach. Enjoy a cookout using the shaded grilling area or hold an event at the pavilion. There are also plenty of dining options around Versluis Park, including The Score Restaurant & Sports Bar and Blue Water Grill.

Features:

• Lake
• Beach
• Swimming Area
• Playgrounds
• Grills
• Picnic Areas
• Pavilion
• Public Restrooms
• Walking Trails
• Sand Volleyball
• Fishing

Other Northeast Grand Rapids Parks:

• Knapp Valley
• Pall Perkins Park

Eastown Parks

John Collins Park

This beautiful Eastown lakefront park is located on Reeds Lake, close to the entrance to the 4-mile Reeds Lake Trail and next to Rose’s restaurant. During your visit you can take in the view of the lake at the overlook decks, walk through the rain gardens, and enjoy a concert at the event plaza. John Collins Park is also a short walk from the restaurants and shops of Gaslight Village, including Carolina Lowcountry Kitchen and Jersey Junction ice cream.

Features:

• Reeds Lake
• Paved Bike and Walking Trail
• Picnic Tables
• Concert/Event Plaza
• Overlook Decks
• Boat Launch
• Canoe/Kayak Launch
• Rain Gardens

Other Eastown Parks:

• Hodenpyl Woods
• Manhattan Park
• Waterfront Park

East Grand Rapids Parks

Gerald R. Ford Airport Viewing Park

What’s more fun than watching planes take off and land? This newly renovated park on the south side of the Grand Rapids Gerald R. Ford Airport is on Kraft Avenue, north of 52nd Street and offers great views of the airfield and runways. It has pavilions with public restrooms and shaded tables to enjoy a meal while plane watching. Tune your radio or phone to 1650 AM and listen in on the air traffic controllers helping the 300 plus planes, that go in and out of the airport, throughout the day.

Features:

• Public Restrooms
• Water Fountains
• Pavilions
• Picnic Tables

Cascade Township Park

This large park in Cascade boasts a popular disc golf course, a spacious dog park, a large modern playground with a sandbox, and plenty of pavilions for events. There is also a mile of paved trails that loop around the park, and a hill that’s great for rolling down in the summer and sledding down in the winter. Frosty Boy of Cascade and Jam’nbean Coffee Company are a short drive down the road for an after-park treat.

Features:

• Pavilions
• Public Restrooms
• Playground
• Sandbox
• Dog Park
• Walking Trails
• Disc Golf Course
• Tennis Courts
• Basketball Courts
• Soccer Fields
• Baseball Diamond
• Sledding Hill
• Benches
• Wooded Paths

Other East Grand Rapids Parks:

• Ada Township Park
• Leslie E. Tassell Park

Southeast Grand Rapids Parks

Prairie Wolf Park

Prairie Wolf Park is a great hiking park for people of all ages and abilities, with loops that are flat and paved and others that are hilly, wooded, and natural. The big red barn near the entrance of the park is a popular place for wedding and family photos, and the paved trails are dotted with benches and picnic tables. Children will love the large wolf statue near the start of the trails, as well as the boardwalk crossing a pond that is often full of turtles and frogs.

Features:

• Paved Trails
• Natural Trails
• Picnic Tables
• Benches
• Pond
• Creek

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by sarah_abbott (@sarahjeanabbott)

Other Southeast Grand Rapids Parks:

• Creekside Park
• Caledonia Lakeside Park

South Town Parks

Plaster Creek Family Park 

Plaster Creek Family Park won the 2020 Park Design award from the Michigan Recreation and Park Association for its innovation and natural beauty. Renovated in 2019, it boasts beautiful wooded paths, a playground, a rain garden, and even an outdoor classroom area for nature classes for children. There’s a unique natural playscape that includes a stump forest, log structures, and more created from fallen trees.

Features:

• Ball Diamond
• Grills
• Park-School Sites
• Paved Bike and Walking Trail
• Picnic Shelter
• Picnic Tables
• Playground
• Restrooms
• Soccer Field
• Tennis Courts
• Bike Trail
• Walking Trail
• Futsal Courts

Other South Town Parks:

• Garfield Park
• Mooney Park
• Pleasant Park
• Roosevelt Park

Southwest Grand Rapids Parks

Millennium Park

1,400-acre Millenium Park straddles the borders of Walker, Grandville, Wyoming, and Grand Rapids. It’s one of the biggest urban parks in the nation and has something for everyone. Relax at the 6-acre beach around the man-made lake, take the kids to the splash pad, rent a boat on the Grand River, or traverse the 18 miles of hiking and biking trails. Millennium Park is a park you can spend the entire day at and never get bored!

Features:

• Beach
• Splash Pad
• Lake
• Picnic Areas
• Boat Rental
• Fishing
• Paved Trails
• Dirt Trails
• Concessions
• Restrooms

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Project Day Brightener (@projectdaybrightener)

Lamar Park and Splashpad

Looking for a free Grand Rapids splash pad to escape the summer heat? Lamar Park on the far, west side of Wyoming has a splash pad that’s open to the public and loaded with fun water features for kids such as dumping buckets, soaker stations, and water tunnels. There’s also a rock-climbing wall, a large playground, and plenty of grills for cooking out.

Features:

• Grills
• Restrooms
• Baseball Field With Grandstand and Restrooms
• Sand Volleyball Courts
• Basketball Courts
• Shelter With Electricity (accommodates 75 people)
• Climbing Wall
• Soccer Fields
• Fishing
• Softball Field
• Splash Pad (opens June 1 and closes on Labor Day)
• Little League Field
• Tennis Courts
• Playground Equipment
• Walking Trail

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRmGNMmh0GN/

Get your Splash Pad essentials!

Other Southwest Grand Rapids Parks:

• Gezon Park
• Johnson Park

West Side Parks

Richmond Park

There’s plenty to do at this historic West Side park, from basketball and swimming to mountain biking and sledding. The large Richmond Pool is great for hot summer days and features a large water slide and vintage bathhouse. Richmond Park is an original Grand Rapids park, serving as a gathering place for Grand Rapidians for almost a century.

Features:

• Ball Diamond
• Basketball Court
• Enclosed Shelterhouse
• Grills
• Natural Area
• Parking
• Picnic Shelter
• Picnic Tables
• Playground
• Restrooms
• Sledding Hill
• Swimming Pool
• Tennis Courts
• Cross Country Skiing
• Mountain Bike Trail
• Free Public Wifi

Other West Side Parks:

• John Ball Park
• Lincoln Park

If you’re looking for places to stay while you explore Grand Rapids, our Hotels in Downtown Grand Rapids article is full of great options—so don’t miss it!

Get everything you need for the Park!

Pin it for Later!