Parks & Open Spaces

BRIDGE STREET PLAZA

Bridge Street Plaza is a .75 acre popular pocket park, located in the heart of downtown Grand Ledge at 213 S Bridge St. Throughout the centuries, art and music have served as a reflection of our culture. In early 2014, the City of Grand Ledge Downtown Development Authority (DDA) purchased 4 metal sculptures created by Michigan artist, Robert Barnum that link the synergy between music and art. The DDA and the Grand Ledge Chamber of Commerce held a contest to name the sculptures and by mid-2014, the newly named, “Bridge Street Four” were placed prominently within Bridge Street Plaza. In addition to art, Bridge Street Plaza is home to the Grand Ledge Christmas tree each year from mid-November through the end of December.

CITY HALL PARK

City Hall Park is a .46 acre popular neighborhood park, located behind Grand Ledge City Hall at 310 Greenwood St. Amenities in the park include: picnic areas, tables, playground, & a basketball court. The park is central & easy to access with parking on surrounding streets & plenty of bike racks.

COLONIAL PARK

Colonial Park is a .87 acre neighborhood park, nestled among private homes on the south side of Grand Ledge at on the 600 block of Edwards St. This small neighborhood park is accessible by a pedestrian walkway and offers picnic and walking areas.

ELAINE DIBLE MEMORIAL PARK

Elaine Dible Memorial Park is a small 0.8 acre neighborhood park, located in the Candlewood Estates Subdivision off Willow Hwy, on Sunrise Dr. Amenities in the park include: picnic areas and open space. The park is accessible by a pedestrian walkway.

FIELDVIEW OPEN SPACE

Fieldview is a 3.11 acre neighborhood-utilized open space, located on the south side of Grand Ledge at 700 Fieldview Dr. This quiet neighborhood open space that is accessible by a pedestrian walkway and offers picnic, walking, and sledding areas.

FITZGERALD MEMORIAL PARK

Fitzgerald Memorial Field is a 3.11 acre popular baseball diamond, located on the western bank of the Grand River, in the heart of downtown at 110 S. Bridge St. Dedicated in 1936, the lighted and irrigated field now hosts the Mustang League baseball games (ages 9 and 10) as well as the City’s Little League Championship series. Whether sitting in the bleachers to watch a baseball game, or watching the action from up above on Bridge Street, Fitzgerald Memorial Field provides a superior backdrop to take in the beauty of the Grand River, the charm of downtown, and the wholesome fun of a Little League baseball game. And on Friday evenings in the month of August, families are invited to Movies in the Park for free family-friendly movies shown on a portable screen in the middle of the field. Fitzgerald Field is also the best spot to admire a striking mural by Michigan artist, Tony Hendrick. Created with local volunteers of all ages, “The Heart and Art of Grand Ledge” depicts life in Grand Ledge, both past and present, and serves as a prominent reminder of the beauty that can come from a community working together.

FITZGERALD PARK

Fitzgerald Park is a spectacular 78 acre, all-seasons park located off of M-43, 100 Fitzgerald Park Dr. The eastern boundary of the park provides tremendous views of the Grand River, fish ladder, and dam. No visit to the park is complete without viewing the famous sandstone ledges, ancient sedimentary rock outcroppings that lining the banks of the Grand River. Fitzgerald Park is the ideal setting for a vast number of outdoor activities, from more than three miles of hiking/ cross country skiing trails, a sledding hill, 18-hole disc golf course, four large picnic shelters for up to 300 people, 2 softball/baseball diamonds, playgrounds, & so much more. Fitzgerald Park is also home to the historic Ledges Playhouse Theater where ticket-holders can watch dramatic productions May through September. The theater is housed in a 100-year-old structure nestled into the parks wooded area on the bluffs overlooking the Grand River. The theater is leased to Over the Ledge Theater Company, a local nonprofit. Fitzgerald Park is owned by the City and leased by the Eaton County Parks and Recreation Commission. The park is the site for the administrative offices for Eaton County Parks Department. Naturalists Services are available through the park’s Nature Center, with programs relating to ecology, wildlife, and natural history. There is a vehicle entrance fee to enter the park, $3/day for residents and $5/day for non-resident. For more information on entrance fees, including options to purchase yearly passes, visit Eaton County Parks website or call the Park Office at 517-627-7351.

ISLAND PARK

Island Park is situated in a wide section of the Grand River in downtown, just off of West River St. The park setting offers a relaxed atmosphere that has proven popular for generations of park users. The island is connected to the mainland by a wide pedestrian bridge, a perfect place to stop and watch the wildlife and take in the splendor of the Grand River. Island Park hosts popular festivals each year including: Victorian Days, in May; Island Art Festival, in August; and The Color Cruise, in October. Island Park is the largest of Grand Ledge’s Famous “Seven Islands.” At the turn of the 19th Century, it held a hotel, casino, roller coaster, and resort. Now, Island Park is the venue that showcases the small town charm of a unique park located in the downtown. Residents and visitors are able to rent the boat dock, lookout, and gazebo individually, or the entire park, a popular option for wedding parties. The park is a popular destination for visitor of all ages and abilities. Warmer months will attract visitors looking for a quiet place to walk, jog, read, bike, and even fish.

JAYCEE PARK

Jaycee Park is centrally located in downtown offering 5.92 acres of park space along the Grand River in downtown, on East River St. Recent expansion of the park helped make way for an improved boat launch in 2016. As a destination, Jaycee Park offers a modern play structure, large swing set, sand volleyball court, full basketball court, picnic tables, pavilion, sledding hill, natural canoe and kayak launch, and boat launch. With direct access to the Riverwalk Trail and Wide Walk, as well as 100 on-street parking places along East River St, Jaycee Park is easily accessible by non-motorized and motorized travel. Jaycee Park hosts popular summer events such as Music in the Park (Free live concerts, Thursday evenings from June - August), Yankee Doodle Days (Festival in June); and the Market on the Grand (Saturday mornings from May - October). Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, visitors can cool off with the new, universally accessible GL Splashpad.

OAK PARK

Oak Park is located on a northerly bluff overlooking the Grand River, offering 8.98 acres of quiet park space north of Bridge Street at 700 W Front St. Recent expansion of the park nearly doubled the size of the park which now offers nearly 1,180 feet of riverfront. Oak Park offers a beautifully a serene backdrop for walking and hiking, as well as shaded picnic and wildlife viewing area beneath the canopy of its mature oak trees. Nature lovers share the park with rock climbers who use the ledges for recreational climbing, instruction, and rescue training. There are as many as 80 climbing routes up the ledge’s sheer rock-face that have been identified, named, and rated as to their degree of difficulty. The ledges in Oak Park are not a place for a beginning climber unless they are part of a group receiving qualified instruction. Visitors are advised to use extreme caution on and near the ledges. Climbers are urged to follow the posted Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Rock Climbing to ensure a safe experience and help preserve the fragile cliff surfaces and plant ecology.

OAKWOOD GREENSPACE

Oakwood Greenspace is located on the City’s northeast side, adjacent to Oakwood Cemetery, offering 2.2 acres of greenspace at Orchard and Church Sts. The recent addition of this public greenspace offers opportunities for visitors to create their own fun and recreational activities, such as: playing frisbee, kickball, or tag, flying a kite, and having a picnic.

RIVERFRONT PARK

Riverfront Park is a small 0.21 acre downtown park, located at the corner of Bridge St and E Front St, 110 N Bridge St. Amenities in the park include: picnic tables, benches, excellent view of the Grand River, and “The Ledges”. The park is easily accessible by connected sidewalks and provides a beautifully landscaped parking area for visitors. Visitors to Riverfront Park are treated to “The Ledges” a sculpture by artist, Ivan Iler depicting the awe-inspiring and unique sandstone ledges that occur naturally in Grand Ledge. Installed in 2015, “The Ledges” sculpture stands nearly 18-feet tall and is 9-feet wide, providing a unique element to the park.

RIVERWALK TRAIL

The Riverwalk Trail spans over 2,280 feet along the south side of the Grand River. Accessible from Island Park, Fitzgerald Memorial Field, and Jaycee Park, the Riverwalk Trail provides paved and deck surfaces perfect for all nonmotorized transportation. Amenities along the Riverwalk Trail include: picnic areas, fishing areas, and beautiful views of the Grand River.

WIDE WALK

The 10-foot-wide Wide Walk provides a paved surface spanning nearly 2 miles along the south central portion of the city. Accessible from several points within the city, visitors can easily park at one of the 100 angled parking spaces along East River Street at Jaycee Park. Amenities along the Riverwalk Trail include: picnic areas, fishing areas, and beautiful views of the Grand River.