11 Best Parks in Grand Rapids Michigan
The best parks in Grand Rapids are out there waiting for you, all year round.
While the city of Grand Rapids is known for its vibrant downtown life featuring award-winning breweries, restaurants and museums, you’ll also find beautiful natural areas with miles of trails in Kent County and the surrounding area.
Grand Rapids is home to a fabulous parks and recreation department, offering amazing parks that include everything from splash pads and volleyball courts to paved trails for hiking and biking to boat rental, too. You might even find a food truck during the warmer summer months.
Whether you’re looking for a place to take your lovely pets, or go on a stroll, have a game of disc golf with friends or just enjoy the warm summer breeze, these are the best parks to visit in Grand Rapids.
Ah-Nab-Awen Park
220 Front Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
There is often nothing like a park in the middle of a city, and in the case of Ah-Nab-Awen Park, there is nothing like this city park.
This area of Grand Rapids, set in the center of the valley along the western riverside of the Grand River, used to be the home to the indigenous peoples of the area with evidence of their footprint on the valley reaching back thousands of years.
Now the site is memorialized by Ah-Nab-Awen Park which is a hub of art installations, open events
like concerts and movies-in-the-park, and the beauty and history of an area that can still be appreciated today.
Amenities:
- Restrooms
- Pet Friendly
- Picnic Tables
Huff Park
2399 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Huff Park is unique among most parks in that it resides on marsh land. If you ever wanted to relax and be one with the natural world, this is the park for you.
The boardwalk trails zigzag over the wetlands in Huff Park, allowing you to be closer to nature than ever. This is a great park for a nature watch with native birds and aquatic life everywhere. Be sure to find the Observation Deck, an area of the boardwalk where you can look out at the marshlands all around you.
Amenities:
- Boardwalk
- Pet Friendly
- Baseball Diamond
- Playground
- Open Shelter
- Picnic Tables
- Parking
Provin Trails Park
2900 4 Mile Rd NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
This sprawling park is right next to Robinette’s Applehaus and Winery (one of the top apple cider mills in Michigan), and an amazing destination to explore with the family.
The park is home to soaring pine trees and dunes which make it stick out among other parks in the area. The trails wind around the park, and are great for cross country skiers and hikers.
Amenities:
- Pet Friendly
- Nature Trails
- Hiking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Restrooms
- Parking
Riverside Park
2001 Monroe Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
This beautiful park is just north of downtown Grand Rapids on the shores of the Grand River.
The park trails connect directly into the White Pine Trail and are a great destination for any cyclist or avid walker or runner. This park is also an excellent place for fishing with views of the Grand Rapids cityscape that you won’t want to miss.
Riverside Park is home to a number of festivals and events including, Oktoberfest and annual Pow Wow’s to celebrate the indigenous peoples of the area.
Amenities:
- Disc Golf Course
- Soccer Fields
- Playgrounds
- Pet Friendly
- Restrooms
- Open Shelters
- Bike Paths
- Picnic Tables
- Fishing
- Parking
Waterfront Gilmore Park
2205 Reeds Lake Blvd SE, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506
This exciting park overlooks Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids and is an excellent place to take a stroll on some of the many boardwalks and docks overlooking the lake.
On any given day, an explorer to this park might get to see the sailboats that cruise the lake’s waters or the many birds and fish species that call the lake home. This park is also a great fishing spot with a variety of different lake species
Amenities:
- Pet Friendly
- Picnic Tables
- Fishing
- Parking
Belknap Park
30 Coldbrook St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Known as Lookout Point, this park oversees the valley of Grand Rapids and is a best place to watch fireworks and enjoy the beauty of a Michigan sunset.
This park boasts some of the biggest hills in the Grand Rapids area making it a prime location for sledding, ice skating and more. This is a common spot for urban stargazers, lovers and for anyone who wants to sit and marvel at the view of the city, the sky, and valley below.
Amenities:
- Pet Friendly
- Baseball Diamond
- Playground
- Tennis Court
- Sledding Hills
- Open Shelter
- Picnic Tables
- Parking
Richmond Park
963 Richmond St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Set on the westside of Grand Rapids, this park is centered around a lovely pond surrounded by walking trails that lead through the hills and woods around. The park is also home to the Richmond Sledding Hills, a prime destination for any winter advocate. The park even has a pool with a large water slide and other summer amenities making it the best place to take the family during the warmer months of the year.
Amenities:
- Swimming Pool
- Baseball Diamond
- Playground
- Pet Friendly
- Sledding Hills
- Open Shelter
- Picnic Tables
- Parking
Hillcrest Dog Park
250 Fuller Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Don’t forget to treat your dog to the leisures of this urban dog park. This park which is centralized near Eastown in Grand Rapids is not only a designated dog park where you and your pets can live and let loose, but also is a great urban space to enjoy nature.
The park is right across from the Hillcrest Community Garden, a must visit for community garden enthusiasts. Hillcrest Park is also a part of Fuller Park and its baseball fields and hills.
Amenities:
- Baseball Diamond
- Pet Friendly
- Sledding Hills
- Open Shelter
- Picnic Tables
- Parking
- Community Garden
Ken-O-Sha Park
1353 Van Auken St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
This nature park is a must visit for hikers and explorers. This beautiful wooded park boasts
over 100 acres of sprawling woods and trails.
The park is also home to a number of playgrounds and obstacles for the family that are made out of natural materials to make you feel even more apart of the nature all around.
Amenities:
- 100+ Acres
- Basketball court
- Natural Trail
- Natural Surface Path
- Bike Trail
- Picnic Shelter
- Playground
- Parking
- Pavilion
Ball Perkins Park
1675 Perkins Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Ball Perkins Park is another amazing wetland in Grand Rapids that can be explored throughout the year.
Take a walk down the trails and boardwalks of this park and find yourself closer to nature than ever.
Amenities:
- Boardwalk
- Pet Friendly
- Picnic Tables
- Parking
Millennium Park
1415 Maynard Ave SW, Walker, MI 49534
Just on the outskirts of Grand Rapids is the largest urban park in West Michigan, Millennium Park.
This park has everything a park goer could ever ask for: beaches, lakes and ponds, bike paths, hiking trails, endless fishing spots, playgrounds, open fields, and more than 1,400 acres to explore and love. This is a must-visit park in the Grand Rapids area.
Amenities:
- Beach
- Pet Friendly
- Hiking Trails
- Bike Paths
- Playground
- Fishing
- Open Shelter
- Picnic Tables
- Parking
Bonus: One More Grand Rapids Park Worth Visiting
Grand Rapids Township Park
1836 East Beltline Avenue NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525
You’ll find a sprawling 58 acres of fun at this park in Grand Rapids Township including ball fields, soccer field, sand volleyball, tennis courts, basketball hoops, a handicap accessible playground, and nature trails that can be used for cross country skiing in the winter.
Take a breath, relax and enjoy the nature all around. There is no time like the present to go out
and explore the exciting and best parks in Grand Rapids. So, what are you waiting for?
More Things To Do in West Michigan
About the Author-
Colin Blassingame is Content Writer for My Michigan Beach and Travel, and is currently finishing his BA in Writing at Grand Valley State. He enjoys volunteer work writing newsletters for small local organizations in his hometown of Grand Rapids. Colin intends to continue his schooling and begin pursuing a degree in Physics in Japan with plans to focus on Astronomy. He enjoys talking long walks in the snow and listening to podcasts in his free time.