No mountains, no gym, no problem! Learn the fundamentals of rock climbing at your local park with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, GR Boulder Project, and GR Climb Club.
Highland Park has one of the coolest climbing walls around, and more people should know how to use and enjoy it. We’ll provide instruction for anyone who wants to give climbing a try. All levels of experience are welcome, including kids! Light refreshments will be provided.
If you’d like to volunteer during this event, we have three spots available. You can learn more and register here.
Event Schedule
6-7pm: Kids Climb
- Scavenger Hunt
- Climbing routes
- Music
7-9pm: Adult Climb
- Come climb, we can teach you if you want, or just do your own thing!
- Music
Climbing Rocks—Pun Intended
Climbing is a fun and increasingly popular sport that helps you develop strength, resilience, and creativity. Yet, it is often hard for people, especially kids, to get into climbing because few free opportunities exist. Free climbing structures like the one at Highland Park are built for the public to use and enjoy and we want to make it even easier by connecting future climbers with experienced climbers to learn the skills they need to begin enjoying the sport for themselves.
About Our Event Partners
GR Boulder Project provides access to climbing for anyone and everyone. They are excited to help diversify the climbing community and get people into climbing! The Grand Rapids Boulder Project is an effort of the American Alpine Club – West Michigan Chapter in collaboration with the Grand Rapids City Parks and Recreation Department.
GR Climb Club is a Michigan climber meet-up for climbers of all levels. They meet Monday evening at rotating climbing gyms in West Michigan.
Celebrating Climbing with Art
All our events like the Community Climb are free thanks to the power of community. If you’d like to support future free community events by making a financial gift of $25 or more (you’ll have the option during event registration), we’d like to say “thank you” with a poster from our Park Exploration poster series! The first 10 attendees to register and make a donation will receive a poster.
PLAY:GR was designed (and printed!) by Stephanie Ellis of Field Sparrow Studio.
Any gifts made on-site qualify to receive a poster as a thank you! Please note we encourage online donations as we cannot make or keep change.
We 🫶 Exploring Our Parks with You
You belong out here! We have an incredible park system in Grand Rapids, and want our community to have the tools they need to get outside, explore your parks, and find a new passion. Our community events bring together community members and local experts so you can learn something new: whether that’s a hobby, information about the natural world, or finding your new favorite park.