MLive says: “If you want to see a spectacular view of Michigan's second largest city, head up to Lookout Park for a bird's-eye view. We recommend checking it out during different times of day (and night), as well as different times of year. Sunrises, sunsets and city lights all look fantastic from up on the hill. You'll get a different view each time. If you can snag a spot here for Fourth of July fireworks, you will surely be wowed.”
June 21, 2019
I live in Kent County, and I had been to Lookout Park before once or twice to catch a sunset. It’s a pretty typical city park: some picnic tables, trees, and a sign with rules posted on it. It’s relatively small, and the view from the park is honestly…okay. Knowing this, I hopped on my bike on a slightly overcast evening and rode the 15 minutes over to the park (all uphill from where I was coming from - was a good workout). I took my hammock, not remembering that the trees aren’t positioned very well for a hammock in the park; a bag of organic strawberries from the Fuller CRC Community Garden; a book and my journal; and my camera.
The ride there was interesting with lots of construction going on downtown, closing bike lanes and making it a little dangerous to sneak out into traffic to avoid bumpy pedestrian-filled sidewalks. The best way to access Lookout Park by bike or foot is to come in through the north side of Belknap Park and then use the hillside trail to get up to the top of the hill. You’ll definitely have to walk a bike up the hill: it’s far too steep to ride unless you’ve got some crazy muscles. When you crest the hill, you’ll happen upon what you believe to be Lookout Park, and it kind of is, but it’s mostly an overlook where people gather to…party? Every time I’ve been here, this part of the “park” is filled with adults playing loud music and drinking. It’s never a terribly appropriate scene.
If you pass by this crowd, there’s a house and a tree buffer, and then you happen upon the actual park. Like I said: not terribly impressive, but the view can be pretty on the right night.
When I arrived in the park, I secured a picnic table and spent an hour reading, journaling, and munching on berries.
After a while, two young girls (both 10) joined me by my picnic table, and felt the need to strike up a conversation. We chatted for a while and then they spotted my camera, and thus started a photoshoot. The girls took photos of each other, of me, and of the park. Most of them were nonsense when I went back to look, but I kept a couple of their better ones.
They also introduced me to “Mukbang” and ASMR videos on Youtube, and we made one of our own. I can’t upload it here but it’s two minutes of them eating Pop Rocks candy really close to my camera lens.
We watched the sun come down, but didn’t get any amazing sunset views. We all took off before dark to get home safely, and their parting words were, “I hope we run into you again someday.”
As someone who lives in Kent County, I was a little surprised at the choice of “the most beautiful place” in our county. Here’s a selection of other options:
The end of Sunset Avenue NW - has a much prettier view than this park
The Japanese Garden or the Lena Meijer Conservatory at Fred Meijer Gardens
The GRAM
Riverside Park
Heritage Hill Historic District & the Meyer May House
Pickerel Lake Park
I’m a little biased toward some of my favorite spots. To me, some of the most beautiful places are not-so-awe-inspiring spots that provide me comfort and refuge from day-to-day city life:
The strawberry patch at Urban Roots
The two pine trees in the southeast corner of Lincoln Park that are perfect for a hammock
The balcony on my apartment
South Kent trails
Grand Rapids Public Library - Main Branch
GVSU’s Steelcase Library
John Ball Park
A secondary goal that I have, in addition to this project, is to visit every city park in Grand Rapids, and every county park in Kent County. I’m always looking for new favorite spots; I’ll let you know how that goes.