Parks & Recreation Department
About Us
The Department of Parks and Recreation
Welcome to Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation — your home for parks, programs, and community. Whether you love kayaking on the Grand River, walking the trails, playing in your local park, or joining a group fitness class, we're here to help you stay active and connected — every season of the year.
Our goal is simple: to create vibrant parks and recreation experiences that bring people together and build a stronger, healthier community for every neighbor and visitor.
Thanks to the generosity and support of neighbors, Grand Rapids voters approved a permanent, dedicated parks millage in 2019. Annually, the millage provides us with $7.42 million to provide affordable programs and repair and maintain our parks infrastructure including pools, playgrounds, parks, and trails.
Report an Issue in a Park or Facility
We take pride in maintaining safe, beautiful parks and facilities across Grand Rapids. If you see an issue, we want to know about it! Whether it's a full trash can, malfunctioning drinking fountain, graffiti, or something else, use the button below to submit a maintenance request.
We use a reporting platform to track and monitor maintenance requests. For help using the platform, please read the Maintenance Request Guide.
Our Department Divisions
Recreation
GR Parks and Rec provides year-round recreation programming for all ages. Classes includes free and low-cost options that are welcoming to all abilities.
Cemeteries
The Cemetery division manages six City-owned cemeteries, providing respectful services while preserving historical landscapes and serving the broader community's needs.
Forestry
Our Forestry division sustains and enhances Grand Rapids' urban tree canopy by managing over 67,000 street trees in addition to our park trees. Learn more about how we care for our tree network.
Our Mission, Values, and Goals
Our Department mission, vision, and goals were developed from community needs and input.
Mission
To provide our community with inspirational experiences through the responsible management and collaborative stewardship of the City’s natural, educational, and cultural resources.
Vision
Creating and supporting a healthy, vibrant community through active neighborhoods, inclusive programs and events, innovation and best practices, exceptional services and embracing diversity.
Goals
- Connected Network - Create a connected network of parks, natural areas and waterways accessible to the entire Grand Rapids community.
- Healthy Community - Create programs and projects that support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of all community members.
- Neighborhood Investments - Create diverse experiences by drawing on community feedback, local ecology and national trends.
- Sustainable System - Seek innovative solutions to become more financially self-sustainable and diversify funding sources.
Parks and Recreation Strategic Master Plan
Grand Rapids residents continue to emphasize that parks, natural spaces and safe recreational opportunities are an important part of our community. Parks are vital to our health and wellbeing and have been especially important spaces for our community as we live through a global pandemic.
Every five years the City of Grand Rapids updates our parks master plan, which provides a road map for the long-term development and sustainability of our park system. The Parks & Recreation Master Plan looks at ways we can:
- Create equitable access to parks in every neighborhood.
- Ensure we have the right number and distribution of recreational facilities.
- Develop creative and inclusive programming for our community.
- Expand community impact through partnerships and creative funding strategies.
Reserve a Facility
Are you wanting to host an event or activity at a City park? GR Parks & Recreation manages reservations for facilities including:
- Athletic courts
- Community and event rooms
- Gymnasiums
- Pavilions
- Picnic shelters
- Pools
Please read the Park Facility Reservation Guide before submitting your reservation. Reservations can be made online. For additional help, please call or visit the department office.
Note: If you don't already have a Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation account, you'll need to create one to request your reservation. Our online catalog has photos, locations, seating capacity, and pricing information.
Contact Us
Our Office: 1500 Scribner Ave, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Office Hours: Monday - Fridays: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Class and Program Cancellations: Cancellation updates will be posted to Facebook and to our closure hotline 616-456-3699
Call or Fax Our Office
To reach the office, please call 616.456.3000 or 311. For fax, please send it to 616.456.4561.
Email the Department
To reach the Department of Parks and Recreation by email, please email parksandrec@grcity.us.
Follow Us on Facebook
Stay up to date about programs, news, events, closures, and more by following @grparksandrec on Facebook.
Follow Us on Instagram
Stay up to date about programs, news, events, closures, and more by following @grparksandrec on Instagram.
