Board Intro: Justin Kooreman

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is beginning 2025 with a series of introduction posts of our board members. Now you’ll be able to recognize them on the street; please say “hi!”.

Justin Kooreman
Board Role: At Large, board member for two (2) years.

I moved to Grand Rapids in 1996 and spent 17 years living in the Garfield Park neighborhood. After graduating from Michigan State University in 2014, I began my career as a hotel manager. This allowed for me to transfer across the country and work in many different cities. I had stints in Austin, Milwaukee, Chicago, and Salt Lake City. A very rewarding aspect of this journey was getting to see the diversity of these cities and their neighborhoods. 

During the Covid years I decided to return home and became a manager at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Grand Rapids. I soon thereafter was hired by ICCF Community Homes to work and live at the newly renovated Eastern School on the corners of Eastern, Malta, and Emerald. My role is the Community Connector, and I am a resource for the residents in the building as well as tasked to put on events intended to enhance and build our community. 

I have a great respect for the history of our building, for Eastern Park on the north side of our property, as well as for our neighbors and surrounding community. ICCF reintroducing Eastern School back into the Highland Park neighborhood, as now community of 50 apartments was important collaboration and I am proud to represent this as part of the HPNA board.

If you would like to support the Highland Park Neighborhood Association you can make donations at our donations page. The association is entirely funded by community support.

Board Intro: Corina VanDuinen

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is beginning 2025 with a series of introduction posts of our board members. Now you’ll be able to recognize them on the street; please say “hi!”.

Corina VanDuinen
Board Role: Treasurer, board member for two (2) years

I'm a settler and steward of ancestral land of the Anishinaabe: the Ojibwe, Odawa and Bodéwadmi people, also known as the People of the Three Fires.

I am a mother. I love animals. I co-parent three dogs. I've tended to this little plot of Earth for many moons; nearly thirty years. I love gardening. To watch the miracle of life, death, and rebirth in the story of a flower is pure magic.

I'm a romantic. I love all life, and I'm fiercely protective of it. We are all connected. Everyone and everything is essential and beloved. I wish for everyone to have access to the beauty and healing nature provides. Her trees, birds, rolling fields, and streams—we need them all—now more than ever. In these times of uncertainty, we need community now more than ever. We need safe, supportive spaces for everyone.

If you would like to support the Highland Park Neighborhood Association you can make donations at our donations page. The association is entirely funded by community support.

Board Intro: Liz Rennie-Gardner

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is beginning 2025 with a series of introduction posts of our board members. Now you’ll be able to recognize them on the street; please say “hi!”.

Liz Rennie-Gardner
Board Role: At Large, board member for one (1) year

Hi everyone! My name is Liz Rennie-Gardner and I have been living in the Highland Park Neighborhood for 3 years. I purchased my first home in the 49507 neighborhood and lived there for 2 years before marrying my now husband and moving into the home we live in now in Highland. Our house is very special to us. We are the second owners of a 1950 bungalow. The previous family planted apple, peach and pear trees that we cherish. We have kept lots of original charm that the previous owners, a craftsman who worked at the Kindel Furniture Factory, had added. 

Not only do we find ourselves so lucky in our home but also this neighborhood. We know and engage with our neighbors all around us. The history of the neighborhood is still alive if you just look around you. We love the massive spruce trees, the beautiful little creek right down the street and the deer and turkeys who mosey through our yard. 

Community building has been a driver in my adult life. I have worked as a bike mechanic at the Spoke Folks, a previous non-profit co-op space in town, at Switchback Gear Exchange as an event organizer, and even used my art degree to host a gallery show at our home. Recently my career has led me to work as fabricator and mechanic at a small family owned snow plow shop. It is such a fun job. I work with a small team and am learning a lot of new trade skills.
In my spare time I enjoy bikepacking, playing with our dogs, working in the garden and finding watering holes to swim in. 

With passions lying in equity, infrastructure, skill sharing and place making I found the Highland Park Neighborhood association a great place to get stuck in and help our neighborhood continue to grow into its full potential. 

If you would like to support the Highland Park Neighborhood Association you can make donations at our donations page. The association is entirely funded by community support.

Board Intro: Russ Malek

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is beginning 2025 with a series of introduction posts of our board members. Now you’ll be able to recognize them on the street; please say “hi!”.

Russ Malek
Board Role: At-Large board member for four (4) years.

  • I moved in the Highland Park Neighborhood when I was 2 years old.

  • I spent several summers at the pool learning to swim.

  • The park was our short cut when in High School, looking for golf balls and morels.

  • Graduated from Michigan Tech. and currently retired as a Plastics Engineer.

  • I currently live in the house I grew up in.

  • I am on the Board to give back and reconnect to the neighborhood.

If you would like to support the Highland Park Neighborhood Association you can make donations at our donations page. The association is entirely funded by community support.

Board Intro: Alison Black

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is beginning 2025 with a series of introduction posts of our board members. Now you’ll be able to recognize them on the street; please say “hi!”.

Alison Black
Board Role: Secretary, board member for five (5) years.

In 2018, I bought my first home – a cozy, 1930s bungalow on the east side of the Highland Park neighborhood. My search was typical of those in Grand Rapids, then and often now: protracted and exhausting. Through a crazy turn of events, I became a local poster child for a national housing crisis gaining steam. My home search and I were featured both in the Wall Street Journal and in a 2-part segment on WOODtv news.

Before that, I rented for a time on the west side of the neighborhood, in a home once owned by a war hero and former GRPD deputy chief who inspired a GI Joe doll.

Suffice it to say, my time here has been memorable!

I love living in Highland Park. Cost of living here is so reasonable for a highly walkable neighborhood with lots of green space and located 15 minutes from pretty much anywhere in the city. My neighbors are artists and musicians, tradespeople, teachers, clergy, retired military and more and we all wave and say hello. It’s an old immigrant neighborhood that reminds me of the one in which my grandparents lived, where I spent many happy summers as a kid. I felt immediately at home here. And I fairly quickly got involved with HPNA as I’m a big believer in pitching in to support what you care about. I can’t say enough about the quality of the folks who volunteer their time alongside me and I’m so proud of the work we do and the difference we make.

On the job, I’m an office manager for a local custom home builder. I deal every day with older homes needing safety updates, rising building costs, a shortage of qualified trades, scarcity of available land on which to build, and other housing-related issues. I value the role HPNA plays in facilitating conversations between neighbors, developers, and local government to work toward safe, affordable and equitable housing for Grand Rapidians.

At home, my husband and I like music and hanging with the dog and the cat.

If you would like to support the Highland Park Neighborhood Association you can make donations at our donations page. The association is entirely funded by community support.

Board Intro: Scott Rider

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is beginning 2025 with a series of introduction posts of our board members. Now you’ll be able to recognize them on the street; please say “hi!”.

Scott Rider
Board Role: Vice-Chair, board member for four (4) years.

Personally I have been living in the neighborhood since 2010 on Grand Ave near the NE corner of Highland Park. My wife actually purchased our home in 2004, so typically I just saw I have been in the neighborhood since then as we were dating at the time. She purchased the home from the original owners who built the home in the 1920s. For 100 years our home has only been owned by 2 families. 

After a career change I knew I had an opportunity to get more involved with my immediate community and wanted to be connected to my neighborhood. I attended a virtual meeting (covid time) for the neighborhood association and a few months later was added to the board as an at-large member. I now hold the Vice Chair role on the board and also head the Parks Subcommittee which schedules park cleanups, maintains the pollinator garden in Highland Park and helps to be a bridge between government departments, organizations that regularly use the park and neighbors.

Professionally I am a realtor with a small locally owned brokerage called Grand River Realty mainly focusing on residential real estate. I also play drums for a local band called VALENTIGER and still enjoy playing flag football and basketball. My wife Rebecca and I plan to stay in the neighborhood with our two cats Vinny and Barb for as long as we're allowed.

If you would like to support the Highland Park Neighborhood Association you can make donations at our donations page. The association is entirely funded by community support.

Board Intro: Adam Tauno Williams

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is beginning 2025 with a series of introduction posts of our board members. Now you’ll be able to recognize them on the street; please say “hi!”.

Adam Tauno Williams
Board Role: Chair, board member for six (6) years.

I’ve been in and around Highland Park my entire life as by grand parents lived in the house on Shirley St which I purchased from them in 1996. Previously my grand father purchased it from my great grandfather who was a home building and built the house.

After several years of being involved in various capacities, mostly related to inter-city transportation advocacy, I noticed that the Highland Park neighborhood did not have an association. This was in 2016. Some kind of organization clearly helped other neighborhoods organize events and other activities. I organized a meet-up at Vitale’s Pizza just to see if anyone would show up. And dozens of people did. It took a few years after that until the neighborhood association was reborn, but by 2019 it was up and running. I have served as chair of the board since that time.

Professionally I am an Information Systems Architect for a local material handing and consulting conglomerate. Only being two miles from the office allows me to commute by bicycle and public transportation - enabling mobility options is one of my passions.

It has been exciting to see the association develop, both to act as a conduit for neighbor voice to be heard by the city, and to facilitate projects like the art-in-the-park and the Highland Park History documentary.

If you would like to support the Highland Park Neighborhood Association you can make donations at our donations page. The association is entirely funded by community support.

Schedule for 2025

Events

  • 2025-04-19 : Highland Park Clean-up

  • 2025-06-21 : Neighborhood / Park Clean-up

  • 2025-08-16 : Annual Party In The Park (Tentative)

    • We are attempting to coordinate the event with other park users.

  • 2025-09-13 : Dumpster Day & Neighborhood / Park Clean-Up

    • The date for dumpster day requires coordination with the city. Watch this page and site for updates.

  • 2025-10-31 : Halloween

Meetings

Post Painting Day

WHEN: 2024-10-19 11am - 3pm

WHERE: Highland Park (the park)

Congratulations to local artist Alyssa Meller, whose designs were selected by HPNA to decorate newly installed posts at entry points into Highland Park

Check out Alyssa's winning concept sketches here: https://drive.google.com/.../1rurr1FPxZG4Z8ZRXkvQlCMoDVPs...

We are looking for volunteers to help paint posts THIS SATURDAY, OCT 19TH from 11am to 3pm. No experience necessary! Just a willingness to participate in something special and to help beautify our park for all to enjoy. Come for one hour or all four - whatever your schedule permits. Should be one of our last warm Saturdays of the year.

Call for Artists – Highland Park Post Painting Project

Calling All Grand Rapids Artists!

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association (HPNA) is excited to announce a unique opportunity for local artists to contribute to the vibrancy and character of Highland Park. We are seeking a talented artist or team of artists to take part in the Highland Park Post Painting Project, a community-driven art initiative aimed at enhancing our neighborhood with original, site-specific artwork.

Project Overview

The Highland Park Post Painting Project invites artists to design and paint a series of 33 newly installed posts, each standing 3 feet high, bordering Highland Park. This is a chance to showcase your creativity and leave a lasting mark on our community. The selected artist will work closely with HPNA volunteers to bring their vision to life, creating a welcoming and vibrant environment for residents and visitors alike.

Key Details:

  • Application Deadline: September 20, 2024

  • Artist(s) Selected & Notified: September 23, 2024

  • Contracts Signed: September 27, 2024

  • Final Concept Design & Supplies List Due: October 2, 2024

  • Concepts Approved: October 7, 2024

  • Stipend & Canvas Distribution: October 9, 2024

  • Volunteer Painting Dates: October 19 & 26, 11 am - 3 pm

  • Art Completion Deadline & Final Payment: October 31, 2024

Compensation:

Selected artists will receive an $800 stipend upon completion of their artwork. In addition, a $400 materials stipend will be provided. All materials must be approved by HPNA before purchase.

How to Apply:

Interested artists should submit their proposals via the online application form here. Your application should include:

  • A one-paragraph statement describing your intended concept.

  • A resume or CV (PDF).

  • A link to your portfolio, art Instagram, or at least 5 samples of previous work (jpg/3mb).

Eligibility:

This opportunity is open to all artists residing in Grand Rapids, with priority given to those living in the Highland Park neighborhood. Applicants must be over 18 years of age.

Selection Process:

Artists will be selected by a majority vote from the HPNA Arts Subcommittee. We are looking for vibrant, friendly, and community-centric designs that will set a positive tone for Highland Park.

Project Details:

The project features 33 posts, each offering a 3-foot high canvas for artistic expression. While abstract compositions are encouraged, all creative proposals are welcome. The final artwork should enhance the welcoming atmosphere of Highland Park and be completed with the support of HPNA volunteers.

Volunteer Support Needed!

We also need enthusiastic volunteers to help make this project a success! The Highland Park Post Painting Project relies on community support to bring these artistic posts to life. Volunteers will assist with painting the 33 posts and work alongside the selected artist(s) to ensure that every post is a masterpiece.

Volunteer Details:

  • Dates: October 19 & 26

  • Time: 11 am - 3 pm

  • No prior painting experience needed – just a willingness to help and be part of something special!

Volunteering is a fantastic way to engage with the community, support local art, and contribute to a project that will beautify Highland Park. If you’re interested in volunteering, please sign up here and join us in making a positive impact on our neighborhood.

For more information on volunteering or to sign up, visit our website or contact us at sammosleyyy@gmail.com. Your participation will help turn artistic visions into reality and bring vibrant new energy to Highland Park.

Don’t miss this chance to be part of something truly meaningful!


Lydia St Traffic Calming

📣 Residents on Lydia St! 📣 You have received a mailer from MobileGR regarding a street calming treatment on Lydia St.

Lydia St and Bissell/College are topics the neighborhood association hears about frequently. No solution is perfect, nor will any one solution solve every problem; we have to increment our way to a better street system.

MobileGR needs to hear from citizens regarding this treatment by August 31st - so please mail your responses back. If you have any questions let us know (hpngr@gmail.com).

The green area on Lydia across from Benson is a curb bump out. Not only is visually narrowing a street the single most effective way to reduce traffic speed, this will also reduce the crossing distance at Benson Ave. Across Lydia St from Benson Ave is the north/rear entrance of Highland Park. It is a future aspiration to improve this north entrance to an path. The idea of connecting Highland Park with the The Gulch and the CLAC [*1] via Benson Ave and Union Ave is an intriguing idea.

The dotted lines indicate existing and potential trails/paths:

If you are a Lydia St resident please consider responding to Mobile GR’s mailer.

[*1] The CLAC: the business district at College Ave, Leonard St, and Carrier St.

Sounds of the Underground

Have you notice these boxes around the city? [and in Highland Park!]

These are an art and advocacy project by the Coldbrook Creek community. The boxes allow you to hear the sounds of the underground, in places where Coldbrook Creek has been buried.

Coldbrook Creek now flows mostly underground. The installations are in Wilcox Park, Fulton Street Market, Highland Park, Mary Waters Park, and Canal Park.

You can find more information @ https://coldbrookcreek.org/sound-underground-art-project/