Best Parks in Grand Rapids-Find Your Next Outdoor Adventure!

Reeds Lake: Starting at the top of our list is Reeds Lake, located in East Grand Rapids. Meet the tight-knit community of East Grand Rapids. You will find people walking, running, walking their dogs, paddle boarding, boating, and much more on Reeds Lake. The lake adorns sidewalks and paths to walk along the lakeshore and has benches along the way to sit, relax, and take in the scene. Reeds Lake also has some of the yummiest restaurants on hand, including Roses for a scenic lakeside meal and The Jersey Junction for a cool ice cream treat at the end of a hot day on the lake!

Gerald R. Ford Airport Viewing Center: Next up is a fan favorite of ours. Did you know that the Gerald R. Ford Airport, located in Grand Rapids, has a whole park dedicated for you to come and watch planes land and take off? Well, if you didn’t, we suppose it is a best-kept secret…because it is! Here you’ll find great views of the airport, runways, a huge grassy knoll for kiddos to run and play, public restrooms, water fountains, a covered pavilion, and picnic tables. Don’t forget to pack snacks or a meal to enjoy on a summer’s evening. This Grand Rapids park is the perfect combination of enjoying the scenery and watching the planes.

Provin Trails: Located next to Robinette’s Apple Haus and Winery sits the charming tall trees and eloquent pockets of light that is known as Provin Trails. You may know this space as “the place for photos” as the enchanted trails adorned with the tallest of trees makes for the perfect photo shoot. Provin Trails also offers hiking trails, a great plain for cross-country skiing in the winter, and public restrooms.

Cascade Township Park: If you are looking for a “one-stop” park, we have the perfect place for you that has something for everyone to enjoy. Welcome to Cascade Township Park. This park is located in the heart of Cascade and has plenty to do’s for kiddos and adults. Here you will find a big sandbox and playground for the kiddos and everything from a disc gold court, soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, a sledding hill, and much more. Located not too far from the park are Frosty Boy and Jam’n Bean Coffee Company for a sweet treat after an afternoon or morning of play!

Pinewood Park: Located in the City of Kentwood, just 15 minutes outside of Grand Rapids, you will find the public park located inside Princeton Estates, a subdivision in Kentwood. Pinewood Park is adorned with three large play spaces, a sandbox, soccer fields, tennis courts, a skate park, a large pavilion and grills for Summer picnics, and a large splash pad for the kiddos. After a large fire that happened back in 2012, the playground structure was rebuilt by all the helping hands of the Kentwood and Grand Rapids Communities.

Millennium Park: If you are looking for a little “beach” oasis, then you have stumbled across a 1,400-acre gem known as Millennium Park. Kick back, relax, and catch some rays while the kiddos play in the sand at the 6-acre beach around the man-made lake. You will also enjoy a splash pad, hiking trails, fishing, concessions to enjoy a snack or lunch, and a covered pavilion to get some shade. This is the place you could spend an entire day at and still not get to every activity this park offers.

Ah-Nab-Awen Park: How can we forget about this classic park right in the heart of Grand Rapids? This park was once the location of a Native American Village but is now better known for hosting some of the coolest events in the city. From festivals to meet-ups and shows to fireworks, this is the place to be on a Summer’s night with the whole family! This space has seating, grassy hills to sit and kiddos to play on, and has a front-row seat to the Grand River and killer views of the tall buildings downtown. You will also find artwork, the Gerald R. Ford Museum right next store, public restrooms, and free WIFI for all of your needs.