Tuesday marked the opening of Phase 1 of the Fred Meijer Millennium Trail that will eventually connect Johnson Park to John Ball Park.
Words can’t really describe how great this new trail is, so I will just agree with Fred Meijer and say, “It’s beautiful, absolutely beautiful.” And it starts less than 2 1/2 miles from Fulton and Monroe!
Now, onto the good stuff.
First a map of the new trail, as best as I could draw it up from memory. Thanks to Microsoft for the aerial imagery. I started my trip at the west end of the new trail. I also drew in the location of the fantastic viewing deck that you can see in the above photo. To view a larger version, click any photo to visit Flickr. Once at Flickr, click the “All sizes” icon and select “Large” or “Original”. My complete set of photos may be found by clicking here.
The wires remind you that this is still an “urban” park.
This was the site of a large washout of the trail that happened during an 85-year flood that happened in January. The bridge was placed to protect the trail from future high flood events.
This is part of the site of the proposed ampitheather (looking west)
That’s it for the tour. More photos are here. We’ll probably be riding this trail on a PedalGR ride in July, on our way to Versluis Orchards, so keep an eye out. I hope that you get a chance to visit this trail soon, as the photos don’t really do it justice. If you’ve been on it already, what do you think? Please pass on this link to others, so they can get an idea of what a treasure this park will become!
I just wonder if you know if any one has published a complete trail map of the trails in and around Millennium park with auto park locations and rest tooms?
Thanks
Dick,
There was a map of Millennium Park with the trails and I think most of the parking areas that was posted at the east end of the new trail. However, I haven’t seen anywhere online that you can download it. I’m going to contact someone at Kent County Parks and see if I can get them to send me a copy of that map and then I will post it.
The easiest places I know of to park to ride this trail would be at the Beach area of Millennium park off of Maynard Ave. This is also where the restrooms are located. There are some inside the beach area and another set NE of the beach by all of the picnic areas.
Or you can park at the trailhead near the Coca-Cola plant. Or you can park at the trailhead at the north end of Ivanrest Ave near the Wyoming Water treatment plant. Those would probably be the best places.
FYI…there are now maps posted at several locations along the new section of the paved trail. Also there is some good information contained in the Kent County parks spring 2009 news letter.
http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Parks/parks_index.htm
Thanks Tim! I looked for something like that newsletter, but didn’t find it. Now, I know where to go.
There is some great information in there, but the map is a bit hard to understand because it doesn’t show what’s actually been built. Still, I’m very glad Kent County Parks & Rec takes the time to put it together.
I checked out the new trail this weekend, and it was really nice! I’m pretty excited about it. I can’t wait to see further development of it in the future.
One bonus for me was that the trail led me through parts of Millenium park that I’ve never seen before. What a treat!
hard to believe that’s a bike trail! the path is so wide and the paving is perfect. this trail is an example of how it should be done!
[...] 5 – Millennium Park and Versluis Orchards – We’ll tour the new trail at Millennium Park then continue on for a tour of Versluis Orchards led by Nate Versluis. Last year we got to eat [...]
[...] 5 – Millennium Park and Versluis Orchards – We’ll tour the new trail at Millennium Park then continue on for a tour of Versluis Orchards led by Nate Versluis. Last year we got to eat [...]
[...] the most beautiful 16 mile ride you can take from downtown Grand Rapids. We will be touring the new Meijer Millennium Park trail first, including the new route around the beach area. The trail from the Coca-Cola plant has just [...]