Places to Visit in Grand Rapids, MI
Millennium Park
Millennium Park, on the southwest side of Grand Rapids, is West Michigan’s biggest urban park. Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Grandville, and Walker are all connected by Millennium Park, which spans four main communities in the area. At around 1,500 acres (6 km2), the park will be double the size of New York City’s Central Park when completed. The project began in 1998, when Roger Sabine, the head of the Parks Department, began planning an extension of Johnson Park. Sabine expanded Johnson Park into a 1,500-acre (6-square-kilometer) park project. Later that year, the concept was eventually submitted to the Secchia Millennium Commission (SMC), which later approved it and designated the park Millennium Park by the Kent County Board of Commissioners. The park first opened to the public in July of 2004. The park is created on the site of former gypsum mines and gravel pits, notably the Domtar mine. Approximately 50 pumps are still extracting petroleum in various areas across the parks. Millennium Park is a one-of-a-kind, large-scale initiative that will transform industrial land into publicly owned, urban green space. The park will be roughly two-and-a-half times the size of Central Park in New York, making it one of the country’s largest urban parks. The park, which runs parallel to the Grand River, currently includes a beach house, playground, picnic spaces, and fishing ponds. In an urban setting, the park provides a unique fishing experience. Fishermen may enjoy a wealth of fishing venues and several free off-season parking spaces only a short drive from downtown Grand Rapids. Panfish, big and smallmouth bass, and even the rare northern pike may be found in the lakes. In the summer, the park offers boat rentals to assist anglers to reach their monster fish. With few tourists in the early spring, the location is a delicacy for anglers looking for largemouth bass during the best time of year. In addition to 18 miles of trails, the park includes a 6-acre beach, a splash pad, boat rental facilities, and picnic spots. The park, according to previous visitors, offers a wide range of family-friendly activities. The park was regarded as calm, pleasant, and clean by visitors. Others praised the availability of kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards for rent. Millennium Park is a little more than 6 miles southwest of Grand Rapids’ downtown area. The park is free to enter, however, some activities, such as the beach and splash pad, require payment.
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