Get Out is Your Monthly Guide to What’s Great in the Great Outdoors.
I’ve lived in West Michigan for just short of 40 years and, through all its changes, what has always been here are the green spaces. I spent time at Johnson Park in my 20s disc golfing, though I was never very good and often just tagged along. My dearly departed friend, Melanie, however, was a Women’s Champion in Michigan at one point. I always thought this was cool and felt some cred by association.
In my 30s, I liked to stroll around Canal Park, which was near my workplace. But I did not necessarily like dodging the territorial redwing blackbirds or catching a whiff of those trees with stinky white blooms in spring! The price we pay, I suppose. I spent much of my 40s in the corporate world out by the airport, and Cascade Township Park was my quiet go-to spot for lunch and stress crying.
Today, inching toward the tail end of my 50s, I’ve spent the last several years exploring many more of the region’s parks with my women’s recreation group. Some of my favorites are Huff, Riverside, Aman, Lamoreaux, and, begrudgingly, Provin Trails (because, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned, it manages to have uphill climbs both ways).
So, to say I’m a fan of Grand Rapids area parks is to understate just a bit. That’s why, at the risk of showing favoritism, I have to give a shout out to Friends of Grand Rapids Parks for what will be the third mention in the last couple months. Not only are they great for volunteering opportunities, they also have collaborated with Disability Advocates on outdoor recreation accessibility. Bra. Vo.
But, there’s more! I recently attended their Wildflower Walk event at Aman Park and I was so impressed with their knowledge of local plants and wildlife habitats—and their deep commitment to preserving the city’s natural resources.
It rained lightly that day, but it didn’t slow the enthusiasm of the walk leaders or the group in tow. We spied mayapples, Virginia bluebells, wild geranium, rare and common violets, wild phlox, buttercups, wild ginger, and lots and lots of the star of the season: trillium. There was also a small patch of harbinger-of-spring that could’ve easily been missed if not for the experts’ keen eyes. Ephemerals are what they call many of what we saw, for the brief window in which they bloom.
In addition to flower peeping, we learned about vernal pools and saw an incredibly tall, centuries-old red oak tree not far from the boulder that serves as a grave marker for Jacob Aman, who donated the park's 330-plus acres to the City in 1926. Oh, and did you know that a tree’s bark is essentially its skin? So, if you’re tempted to carve your crush’s name into one—don’t. It not only irreparably damages the tree’s surface, it can also make it vulnerable to disease.
Fleeting as they are known to be, the majority of the wildflowers we saw on the hike that day have faded by now, but Friends of Grand Rapids Parks has plenty going on the rest of the season. Running in July and August are Neighborhood Conservationist and Neighborhood Forester Classes covering invasive species, safety training, tree identification, and more.
They also hold community events, including rock climbing, an insect extravaganza (interested!), a skateboard workshop, and ring races at Grand Rapids Bike Park. And, guess what? All of this is free. I mean, you can definitely make a donation, and I’m sure they’d appreciate it to keep their initiatives going. But, by making them free, they open up a whole world to those who might otherwise be priced out of these types of activities.
To keep up with everything they have going on, follow them on Facebook and Instagram, or visit their site.
