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Spend Summer at Millennium Beach, Now Just a Bus Ride Away
GRAND RAPIDS, MI. (May 15, 2025) — Millennium Park’s beach and splashpad will open a full week ahead of schedule this Friday, May 16, giving residents a head start on summer and a new way to reach the park: public transit. For the first time in twenty years, weekend visitors can ride The Rapid directly from downtown Grand Rapids to Millennium Park's waterfront, marking a major milestone in connecting urban neighborhoods to natural greenspace.
“Bringing transit to Millennium Park has been a goal for years,” said Deb Prato, CEO of The Rapid. “This expansion means that riders across the region will be able to take advantage of all the amenities the park has to offer — without needing a car. We’re proud to provide more options for people to enjoy one of Kent County’s premier recreational spaces.”
Running Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Route 1000 connects The Rapid’s Central Station at 250 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW to the VanAndel Beach House, located inside Millennium Park at 1415 Maynard Ave. SW in Walker. With about 30 stops along the way and bike racks on every bus, the new route makes the park more accessible than ever—by foot, bus, or bike.
"Reliable transportation shouldn't be a barrier to enjoying nature," said Ben Swayze, Director of the Kent County Parks Department. "This new route helps open up all of Millennium Park, from the beach to the trails, and to more people, more often."
One of the largest urban parks in the country, Millennium Park spans 1,400 acres of natural space with more than 18 miles of paved and unpaved trails. The beach opens up to a 100-acre lake with a marked swimming area, and the zero-depth splashpad features more than a dozen sprayers and buckets for all ages to enjoy. Hours, admission rates, and boat rental information can be viewed on our website, where visitors can also build a season pass that fits the whole family.
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