In a 2025 Floristic Quality Index (FQI) conducted by Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and Calvin University’s Emma Cole Project, Aman Park achieved a score of 82. This high score indicates Aman Park is a botanically significant site, achieved through years of dedicated invasive species removal and habitat preservation work by students and volunteers.
“We’ve always known that Aman Park is botanically significant, but the data now support it,” says Melanie Manion, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks (FGRP) Conservation Manager. “We’d expect the average urban park to have a FQI of around 25, so 82 is truly exceptional, the highest I’ve ever seen.” Areas registering in the 50s and higher are extremely rare and represent a significant component of Michigan’s native biodiversity and natural landscapes.
“This was the first comprehensive botanical assessment of Aman Park and we were thrilled to find such a rich diversity of native plants here, many of which are quite rare in the state,” says Dr. David Warners, co-director of the Emma Cole Project.
Collaborating to Protect Aman Park’s Natural Features
Friends of Grand Rapids Parks has collaborated with botanists from Calvin University’s Emma Cole Project to survey and document the various trees, flowers, and other plants at Aman Park. By having a thorough inventory of the plants, scientists can assess the natural quality of the site, they can determine if a site has remnants of what the landscape looked like before European settlement. This high score suggests that many parts of Aman are relatively undisturbed and indicates Aman Park supports a variety of habitats. This collaboration between FGRP and the Emma Cole Project will continue through 2026. The work at Aman Park will be submitted as a formal scientific manuscript to the Great Lakes Botanist Journal for publication.
“We’re excited to see such a high score for one of our parks and to know that we have areas in our parks system that have maintained their original ecosystem for generations,” said Joe Sulak, Parks Superintendent for the City of Grand Rapids Department of Parks and Recreation. “It’s one more reason that Aman Park is a unique park within our system to enjoy nature. We’re grateful for the ongoing work Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, Calvin University, and their volunteers do to improve and maintain our local environments.”
Conservation Volunteering in Grand Rapids
In addition to Aman Park, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks is invested in ongoing volunteer-powered conservation efforts in parks across the city, removing invasive species, restoring habitat, and improving ecosystem health. To learn more or volunteer doing conservation work at Aman Park and other parks across the City, explore our volunteer opportunities.
