Who can use the Gear Library?

Gear rentals are open to all City of Grand Rapids residents.

How does the Gear Library work?

For individuals and families 

1. When you arrive for your first visit, we'll sign you up with a free Gear Library membership
2. We'll give you a short orientation on how to borrow gear
3. You can borrow gear for up to one week at a time!

Once you become a member, you can stop in and borrow gear more quickly without having to sign up again.

For large group outings like classroom or church groups 

We’d love to talk more and see if we can support your outing! To discuss further, contact Sam at struby@grcity.us. We can't guarantee gear availability for groups, and a group fee may be charged.

Headquarters 

The Gear Library headquarters is located at the community gym at Roosevelt Park (739 Van Raalte Dr SW). The library will be open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm starting May 26.

Community Park Locations

Each week, our Gear Library staff brings free gear to borrow into Grand Rapids parks, just for you! Come say hello and give some of our equipment a test run. Each week will be a little different, but some examples of our gear include yard games, hammocks, basketballs and other team sports gear, binoculars, and more.

Plaster Creek Family Park 

We'll be at Plaster Creek Family Park (2401 Buchanan Ave SW) every Tuesday from 2:00 - 6:00 pm.

Martin Luther King Park

We'll be at Martin Luther King Park (900 Fuller Ave SE) every Thursday from 2:00 - 6:00 pm.

Check out our current list of gear available to borrow below. Our gear inventory is always growing!

Hiking

• Hiking leader backpack
• Daypack (empty)
• Youth and full-size binoculars
• Birding field guides
• Water bottles
• Hammocks with straps
• Compasses
• First aid kits
• Fleece Jackets
• Rain jackets and pants
• Hiking shoes

Outdoor Comfort

• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Camping chairs
• Coolers
• Picnic blankets
• Grilling kits (includes lighter, grilling tools, table cloth and charcoal starter kit)

Yard Games and Sports

• Bocce ball
• Lawn darts
• KanJam
• Ladderball
• Cornhole
• Horseshoes
• Croquet
• Hula hoops
• Solo and double jump ropes
• Portable disc golf basket
• Disc golf discs
• Basketballs
• Futsal balls
• Tennis rackets and tennis balls
• Footballs

We take public health very seriously. We're taking these steps to make sure our programs are safe:

• All equipment is be sanitized between uses
• Whenever possible, equipment will sit untouched for a minimum of 48 hours before it's used again
• Our staff members will always be wearing masks when interacting with you or any equipment

We'll be at Martin Luther King Park (900 Fuller Ave SE) every Thursday from 2:00 - 6:00 pm.

We'll be at Plaster Creek Family Park (2401 Buchanan Ave SW) every Tuesday from 2:00 - 6:00 pm.

Camping Workshop

Cost: Free

Duration: 1 day

Description: This workshop is designed to teach community members the foundations of a safe and fun camping trip. Our staff will walk you through planning your trip, from creating a packing list, to setting up camp, to returning home after a relaxing and fun time outside. 

After completing this workshop, participants may be eligible to borrow free camping gear from the Gear Library.

Outdoor Games and Leadership Workshop

Cost: Free

Duration: 1 day

Description: This workshop is designed for leaders that want to take groups of families or young people outside for single day activities. Once this training is completed, participants may be eligible to borrow large quantities of gear from the Gear Library to support their outings. 

During this workshop we cover:

• Outdoor games that can be borrowed from the Gear Library
• Strategies to keep your group warm, safe, and dry
• Outing planning fundamentals

Sponsors

Great Lakes Sponsors

Lake Michigan Sponsors

Grand River Sponsors

Plaster Creek Sponsors

Network Partners

Thrive Outside Grand Rapids is a collaborative effort with numerous local organizations working to increase equitable access to the outdoors. 

Blandford Nature Center

Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth

Camp Newaygo

Expanded Learning Opportunities Network

Friends of Grand Rapids Parks

Grand Rapids Audubon Club

Grand Rapids Children's Museum

Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation

Grand Rapids Public Schools

Groundswell

John Ball Zoo

Latino Outdoors GR

Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds

Our Community's Children

Outdoor Afro

Outdoor Foundation

Sierra Club Michigan Chapter

Switchback Gear Exchange

West Michigan Environmental Action Council

About Thrive Outside 

Thrive Outside is a nationwide initiative that was started by the Outdoor Foundation. In April 2019, the Outdoor Foundation awarded grants to Grand Rapids, San Diego, Atlanta, and Oklahoma City.

The grants were awarded to support community networks that collectively provide youth and families with multiple, repeat and reinforcing experiences in the outdoors.

Read more about the Thrive Outside Initiative

About Our Community's Children 

Our Community’s Children was the recipient of the Thrive Grant in Grand Rapids, and closely partnered with the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department to spearhead this initiative.

The Thrive Outside initiative in Grand Rapids builds upon many recent efforts to connect children to nature through community health and wellness, education, out-of-school time programming, job creation, leadership development, and more.

A community planning effort in 2016 – led by Our Community’s Children with support from the Children & Nature Network and National League of Cities – created the vision that drives this work:  

“All Grand Rapids youth have equitable access to natural places and spaces for a happy and healthy life.”

Learn More About the Connecting Children to Nature Initiative

Recent Media

• The Power of Partnerships: Grand Rapids, MI has become a national leader in connecting children to nature (Children and Nature Network)
• Turning Education Inside Out (Children and Nature Network)
• Students get out of classroom and into nature (mLive)