Introducing Our New Neighborhood Conservationist Program
There’s a new class series from Friends of Grand Rapids Parks in town…Introducing the Neighborhood Conservationist program! A companion program to our Neighborhood Forester classes, the Neighborhood Conservationist classes are a great way to learn about the natural world, invasive species, and get certified to do independent volunteer work in certain Grand Rapids parks. Ready […]
A Conversation with Conservation Manager Melanie Manion
Melanie Manion is the Conservation Manager at Friends of Grand Rapids Parks. She’s a passionate advocate for conservation, education, and inviting the community to steward public lands together. We caught up about her conservation origin story, what drives her love of education, and what she’s working on at Friends. Friends: Hey! Thanks for sitting […]
10 Ways to Enjoy Grand Rapids Parks in Winter
It might be winter, but you still belong out here! Winter is one of our favorite seasons to enjoy Grand Rapids’ amazing parks. All you need is a little creativity (and some thick socks). 1. Go on a Bird Hike at Mackay Jaycees Park Bird hikes are one of our favorite ways to appreciate the […]
What Conservation Work Can You Do in Winter?
Here at Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, we love cold weather. Why? Because there’s always work to be done and sometimes, snow makes that work a little easier—especially when it comes to conservation. The Friends conservation program manages biodiversity in Grand Rapids’ parks and green spaces. This includes living organisms like trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, […]
Aman Park Scores “Rare, Significant Example of Michigan’s Native Biodiversity” on Floristic Quality Index Assessment
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 […]
Increasing Tree Canopy Downtown in Partnership with DGRI
As part of an ongoing partnership with Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. (DGRI) and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Friends of Grand Rapids Parks is pleased to extend our work planting trees in downtown for two more years. Over the next two years, we will plant, water, and maintain an additional 100 trees in the downtown […]
How to Leave Your Leaves this Fall (and When to Rake Them Up)
Leaving your fallen leaves, rather than ranking them up, offers natural benefits to your yard and the wildlife that calls it home! When you don’t rake your leaves, you’re giving invertebrates a place to nest, which provides backyard birds a food source. Plus, when the leaves break down, their nutrients go back into the soil. […]