The Rapid's "Thriving" Plan

Have you taken the survey for the Rapid's new master plan? The Transit Master Plan will strategically help The Rapid build a sustainable transit system to serve metropolitan Grand Rapids and surrounding region. The plan will take into account the recent employment and business growth in West Michigan and help align and serve the needs of the community.

The survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/thrivingtmpsurvey

The plan’s homepage serves as the central location for you to find out more information about the Transit Master Plan, learn about upcoming events, and ways you can provide feedback.

Master Plan Homepage: https://www.transitthriving.org/

There will be an open house at Rapid Central Station on Thursday October 19th

Where: The Rapid Central Station - Second Floor Conference Room (250 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)

When: 7am-9am, 12pm-2pm, 6pm-8pm

Annual Meeting 2023-10-17

When: 2023-10-17, 6:30pm

Where: Emerald Flats Auditorium ■ 750 Eastern Ave NE (use the west entrance)

Minutes 2023-09-12: http://bit.ly/3vgFMXU

Agenda 2023-10-17: http://bit.ly/3hQq9mR

The last board meeting of the 2023 calendar will be 2023-11-21.

Board Meeting 2023-09-12

When: 2023-09-12, 6:30pm

Where: Emerald Flats Auditorium ■ 750 Eastern Ave NE (use the west entrance)

Minutes 2023-08-15: http://bit.ly/3I1kvZR

Agenda 2023-09-12: http://bit.ly/3jrzz8O

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

• September 16th, Park Cleanup

• October 17th, Annual Meeting

• October, Dumpster Day

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.

Photos From The Garden

Some beautiful photos taken at the gardens in Highland Park.

Do you have any photos of the neighborhood you would like to share?

Let's go for a walk... to The Future!

The city has entered phase#2 of drafting the Community Master Plan that will define the vision of how our city will grow and develop over the next 20 years. The plan will address topics such as equity, housing, environmental justice, and economic development.

Please join us for a Move & Talk session.

Join us at: Intersection of Emerald & Malta

Saturday August 19th, 10:30am

This highly interactive, small group workshop will dive deep into planning at the neighborhood level. We will be exploring the past, present, and future of our neighborhood. This workshop will have three components about the neighborhood: storytelling, auditing what currently exists, and envisioning the future. The walk will last approximately 1-1/2 hours. A light snack will be provided, and participants are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

The entire route has sidewalks & ramped curb-cuts.

Have any questions? E-mail hpnagr@gmail.com or TXT/Call 616-259-4421.

RSVPs very much appreciated.

Board Meeting 2023-08-15

When: 2023-08-15, 6:30pm

Where: Emerald Flats Auditorium ■ 750 Eastern Ave NE (use the west entrance)

Minutes 2023-07-18: http://bit.ly/3GcZNnt

Agenda 2023-08-15: http://bit.ly/3hNV5UV

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

• August 19th, Walk-n-Talk (Master Plan)

• September 16th, Park Cleanup

• October 17th, Annual Meeting

• October, Dumpster Day

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-09-12, 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.

Board Meeting 2023-07-18

When: 2023-07-18, 6:30pm

Where: Emerald Flats Auditorium ■ 750 Eastern Ave NE (use the west entrance)

Minutes 2023-06-20: http://bit.ly/3hNwoIf

Agenda 2023-07-18: http://bit.ly/3PYNyiD

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

• September 16th, Park Cleanup

• October 17th, Annual Meeting

• October, Dumpster Day

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-08-15, 2023-09-12, 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.

Board Nominations Open

In 2023 the Highland Park Neighborhood Association board will have seven openings; five expiring terms and two currently vacant seats [one full term, one short term].

Currently vacant board seats can be filled by the current board; nominations for these seats can be made by any current board member.

Expiring board terms will be chosen by election at the Highland Park Neighborhood Association at the Annual Meeting on October 17th, 2023. Following the election of the new board the board will appoint officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary).

If you would like to service on the Highland Park Neighborhood Dissociation Board, or know someone you feel should serve 🙂, nominations may be made in-person at any HPNA meeting, by mail (535 Shirley St NE, Unit A), by e-mail (hpnagr+nominations@gmail.com) or by voice/text to 616.259.4421. There is also a red dropbox at 535 Shirley St NE where you may leave a nomination.

A full board term is three years. Nominations are open until 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting (until September 17th, 2023).

Have any questions? Feel free to ask.

Call For Artists

Call for Artists Highland Park Pollinator Garden Project

*APPLICATION CLOSED*

About

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is seeking an artist(s) to create site– specific original artwork to activate Highland Park and our neighborhood in general. The Highland Park Pollinator Garden project will consist of two permanent pieces to be completed by one or two artists. 

The selected artist(s) will receive $450 upon completion of their piece(s). In addition, HPNA will provide artists with a materials stipend of $200 (all materials must be approved by HPNA prior to purchase) + the canvas for the project. 

This opportunity is open to artists living in the city of Grand Rapids, with priority given to Highland Park neighborhood residents.

Solicitation and Project Schedule:

*installation in Highland Park will occur following Art Completion Deadline and is in collaboration with the City of Grand Rapids Department of Parks and Recreation.

Entry Requirements

• Applications can be completed and submitted at: https://forms.gle/vGfJDC7U9UVYkq3N7

• Provide a one paragraph statement describing your intended concept for this work 

• Provide resume or cv (PDF)

• Provide link to portfolio, art Instagram, or minimum 5 samples of previous work (jpg/3mb)

• Selected artists will need to be able to produce design concepts in accordance with the provided timeline

• Artists must be over the age of 18 and a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan

Selection Process

Artists will be reviewed and selected by majority vote by the HPNA board of directors.

​​Project Details

Piece one - Placer Marker: Vibrant artistic expression serving as a place marker of the Pollinator Garden located in Highland Park. Must contain the text “Pollinator Garden adopted and maintained by Highland Park Neighborhood Association (with “pollinator garden” larger than remaining text”) 24in x 36in - wood canvas

Piece two - Guide: An artistic illustrated guide to the contents of the garden. An artistic illustrated guide to the contents of the garden. Must contain text and illustrated interpretations of the below pollinators - may also contain text descriptions / up to artist interpretation. 20in x 20in - wood canvas or open to other consideration

• Black Eyed Susan

• Garden Phlox

• Butterfly Bush

• Lamb’s Ear

• Mexican Sunflower

Media

Various mediums are welcome, subject to approval based on ability to withstand the elements in an outdoor environment

questions

Please send any questions to hpnagr@gmail.com and include “HPNA Arts Call” in the subject

Board Meeting 2023-05-16

When: 2023-05-16, 6:30pm

Where: Emerald Flats Auditorium ■ 750 Eastern Ave NE (use the west entrance)

Minutes 2023-04-18:  http://bit.ly/3YHMX9b

Agenda 2023-05-14: http://bit.ly/3YQ7FDR

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

• June 17th, Park Cleanup

• July 15th, Party In the Park

• August, Dumpster Day

• September 16th, Park Cleanup

• October 17th, Annual Meeting

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-06-20, 2023-07-18, 2023-08-15, 2023-09-12, 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.

Board Meeting 2023-04-18

When: 2023-04-18, 6:30pm

Where: Emerald Flats Auditorium ■ 750 Eastern Ave NE (use the west entrance)

Minutes 2023-03-21: http://bit.ly/3WZl1vR

Agenda 2023-04-18: http://bit.ly/3WJAYG4

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

• April 22nd, Park Cleanup

• June 17th, Park Cleanup

• July 15th, Party In the Park

• August, Dumpster Day

• September 16th, Park Cleanup

• October 17th, Annual Meeting

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-05-16, 2023-06-20, 2023-07-18, 2023-08-15, 2023-09-12, 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.

Dog Park Survey

The Grand Rapids Parks Department is conducting a community survey about dog parks. The survey is available until April 30th.

Board Meeting 2023-03-21

When: 2023-03-21, 6:30pm

Where: Emerald Flats Auditorium ■ 750 Eastern Ave NE (use the west entrance)

Minutes 2023-02-21 http://bit.ly/3vyAkjr

Agenda 2023-03-21: http://bit.ly/3hMqmHU

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

• April 22nd, Park Cleanup

• June 17th, Park Cleanup

• July 15th, Party In the Park

• August, Dumpster Day

• September 16th, Park Cleanup

• October 17th, Annual Meeting

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-04-18, 2023-05-16, 2023-06-20, 2023-07-18, 2023-08-15, 2023-09-12, 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.

The Future of Disc Golf & Highland Park

At the HPNA board meeting on 2023-02-21 [Minutes] we met with Shea Abbgy, owner of Great Lakes Disc, and current treasurer of Disc Golfers United in Charity (a local disc-golf related 501c3 org).

The 18 hole disc golf course is one of the least utilized courses in the city; primarily due to the lack of tee pads and signing. In light of this Mr. Abbgy proposed five different scenarios for the future of the course.

The HPNA board felt that the second proposal was the best fit for the park. The second proposal is for a smaller youth and beginner oriented nine hole course. The city does not currently have a beginner oriented course. Given the significant amount of construction and additional amenities in the near future of the park the board felt this proposal created the least conflict with other uses.

Diagram of the proposed nine pitches for proposal #2.

You can view all of Mr. Abbgy’s proposal as well as coarse utilization statistics here.

Community Coffee

Where? 781 College Ave NE

When? March 11th, Saturday, 9am - 11am

---

HPNA understands that not everyone can make it to weekday evening board meetings. But we'd love to hear your concerns as well as your vision for future of our neighborhood. Come by for coffee, meet your neighbors, and help us direct the future Highland park

Finding Home Documentary Release

When: March 2 (Thursday), 2023, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM EST
Where: Wealthy Theatre (1130 Wealthy Street SE)
RSVP required @ https://k-connect.org/findinghome/

Join KConnect, Candor Media, and Housing Kent as they present Finding Home: America's Housing Crisis in Kent County. This documentary highlights the growing housing insecurity problem in Kent County and how KConnect utilized a Collective Impact model to convene community leaders and work collaboratively to begin to design a more equitable system. 

Follow three different families as they navigate the challenging world of housing insecurity and homelessness in our community. Their stories, and many others like them, inspired KConnect and hundreds of other partners to join together to address the systemic barriers causing these inequities.

Following the documentary, there will be a brief panel discussion.

Bridge To Our Future Small Group Meeting

• Where? 781 College Ave NE

• When? February 18th, Saturday, 10am - Noon

• What? An opportunity to discuss the future of our city. The City of Grand Rapids is kicking off its Master Planning process in the next couple of weeks and needs to input of residents. We will be having tea & coffee and going over the questions from Bridge To Our Future

---

What do you hope Grand Rapids will be known for in 10 - 15 years? What are your big ideas ideas to improve Grand Rapids? What is the future of housing in Grand Rapids? What do the cities guiding values mean to you?

---

Would you be interested in being interviewed 1:1 for your perspective? We are recording short interviews of residents which are provided to the Planning Department. If you are interesting in being interviews please text to (616) 259 4421.

Board Meeting 2023-02-21

When: 2023-02-21, 6:30pm

Where: Emerald Flats Auditorium ■ 750 Eastern Ave NE

Minutes 2023-01-17 http://bit.ly/3vdeOjS

Agenda 2023-02-21: http://bit.ly/3C0vy1C

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

• April 22nd, Park Cleanup

• June 17th, Park Cleanup

• July 15th, Party In the Park

• August, Dumpster Day

• September 16th, Park Cleanup

• October 17th, Annual Meeting

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-03-21, 2023-04-18, 2023-05-16, 2023-06-20, 2023-07-18, 2023-08-15, 2023-09-12, 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.