Construction on the Grand River Greenway is ramping up! Ahead of a monumental summer in the river corridor, this $125M construction push will deliver 255 acres of public riverfront space. Here are the projects starting, restarting and wrapping up this season:
Spring 2026 Completions
This ongoing public space update will enhance programming, accessibility, ecological learning and direct access to the river with its new riverfront outdoor classroom space, increased seating and native plant landscaping.
Project Lead: Grand Rapids Public Museum
Construction continues on this new 2-mile trail segment, which will include a 10-foot-wide pedestrian bridge over the Rogue River and overall enhanced accessibility connecting residents and trail users to the Grand River Greenway from the White Pine State Trail to Northland Drive.
Project Lead: Plainfield Charter Township
Summer 2026 Completions
Partners continue work on these 8 miles of natural surface trails designed for mountain biking and hiking. Further improvements including a new family-style, universal design restroom building with four-season use; a new inclusive playground structure; increased designated gathering space; and a bike repair station will complete in summer 2027.
Project Lead: Kent County
Thornapple River Pedestrian Bridge
Construction is active on this 170-foot non-motorized bridge that will connect Legacy Park and Downtown Ada on the north side of Thornapple River to Township trail network to the south, priming future expansions of the Greenway eastward to Lowell.
Project Lead: Ada Township
Fall/Winter Completions
Project partners are rehabbing and extending this 2.5-mile trail segment to include three new public spaces: an outdoor fitness area, playground, small community amphitheater, and sport-court underpass. This Greenway hub is shaping into a key community asset, connecting the Black Hills and Roosevelt Park neighborhoods to the river corridor and setting the stage for future connections to the Southside Creekways projects.
Project Lead: City of Grand Rapids
Fulton-to-Wealthy East Riverfront Trail (Phase 1 – US-131 to railroad)
This new trail segment is being laid between the upcoming Acrisure Amphitheater and the Grand River, which will strengthen connections between downstream Greenway parks and trails and the Downtown Grand Rapids corridor. The trail will feature ample seating and river overlooks, an accessible kayak launch, and improved flood protection. The northern half of Phase 1 will be completed by Summer 2026 and the southern half by Fall/Winter 2026.
Project Lead: City of Grand Rapids
Canal Park’s ongoing renovations include a universally accessible playground; increases in flexible gathering space; a four-season pavilion; integrated Anishinaabek art and symbology; and an accessible dock and canoe/kayak launch. Terraced flood walls and native landscaping will also enhance flood protection and ecological resilience.
Project Lead: City of Grand Rapids
Construction is underway on the new Leonard St. and Ann St. segment. This 12-ft wide multi-use trail will include safe at-grade street crossings, lighting, benches and signage. The trial also completes the connection between Riverside Park and Downtown Grand Rapids. A future project phase will include underpasses at street and railroad bridges.
Project Lead: City of Grand Rapids
The Northland Drive projects have officially begun. The new tunnel will run under the Northland Dr./7 Mile Rd NE intersection for pedestrian and bikers, safely linking the South Rogue Trail to a new nonmotorized trail along Northland Dr. to Cannonsburg Rd NE.
Project Lead: Kent County
Cannonsburg Rd. & Pettis Ave. – North Trails
Six miles of new trails will soon be laid between the Northland Dr. trail and Knapp St. along Cannonsburg Rd. NE and Pettis Ave. NE, connecting Plainfield and Ada townships.
Project(s) Lead: Kent County
Bass River Segment – Phase 1
Ottawa County will begin construction in late spring on the first 3 miles of the Bass River trail segment. This trail will connect Riverside Park in Robinson Township to the Bass River State Recreation Area in Allendale Township. Click here for Ottawa County project updates.
Project Lead: Ottawa County
2027 Completions
Staging at Ah-Nab-Awen Park is scheduled for late spring ahead of the low-head dam removals beginning this summer. This long-awaited project will help restore the Grand River’s ecology and open the river up to safer, more accessible and unprecedented recreation. A public meeting for the Upper Reach project, which will replace the Sixth Street dam and further restore the river, will be held in April 2026.
Project Lead: City of Grand Rapids
Construction begins in late spring on this new 500-foot pedestrian bridge that will cross the Grand River along Knapp St. in Ada Township between Grand River Dr. and Watercrest Dr NE. This project will link trail networks in Grand Rapids and Ada townships. Relocation of endangered snuffbox mussels near the bridge piers will start in June, with bridge construction to begin shortly after.
Project Lead: Kent County
Want to see where these projects are along the river? Check out our interactive project map!
