Westown Commons Park
Westown Commons Park was one of the first parks in the city tapped to receive funding from the new tax for capital improvements. With logistical support from Friends of Grand Rapids and help from youth programs at The Other Way Ministries to recruit volunteers, priority maintenance projects were identified and carried out by community members. Eventually, volunteer maintenance projects expanded to include regular cleanup days in the park, led by Youth Employment Service teens. The installation of a new basketball court increased interest and involvement in the park’s maintenance, and local youth had a major role in the redesign process of the park, resulting in the inclusion of a skatepark in place of the unusable (and unwanted) wading pool.
Westown Commons Park was always meant to be a gathering place, but the volunteer engagement and crowdsourced design process resulted in upgrades that truly reflect the wants and needs of the neighborhood. Improved facilities and even minor amenities like a drinking fountain and bike racks have made all the difference in how people use the park. The much-loved skatepark is the big draw for youths who put so many volunteer hours into cleaning up and helping to redesign the park; skaters from all over the region go to Westown to try out the ramps and rails. The sense of ownership over the park has prevented damage and vandalism thanks to community policing and increased usage, and the park is well on its way to being reestablished as a neighborhood anchor.
Location
752 Watson St, Grand Rapids 49504 View Map
42.9610674102391,-85.687061236336
752 Watson St ,
Grand Rapids 49504
752 Watson St ,
Grand Rapids 49504
Westown Commons Park