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Kent County Parks Department Breaks Ground on Northland Drive Pedestrian Tunnel
GRAND RAPIDS, MI. (April 30, 2026) — The Kent County Parks Department hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, April 30 at 10 a.m. to mark the start of construction on a new pedestrian tunnel under Northland Drive—a vital connection to the South Rogue River Trail and the next link in the growing Grand River Greenway, an emerging network of public parks, trails, and natural areas linking West Michigan communities from Lowell to the Lakeshore. Once complete, these projects will bridge a 23-mile stretch between Millennium Park and Lowell, bringing West Michigan communities even closer to the Grand River through a unified system of parks and trails.
“This groundbreaking represents more than the start of construction—it’s about connection,” said Kent County Parks Department Director Ben Swayze. “We are connecting communities, parks and people while removing a significant safety barrier along one of the busiest roads in northern Kent County. This project brings us one step closer to a seamless regional trail network that improves quality of life and expands access to the outdoors for residents of all ages and abilities.”
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The ceremony, which took place on the corner of Rogue River Drive NE and Northland Drive NE, reflects years of planning and partnership among Kent County, Plainfield Charter Township, the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Kent County Road Commission, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and other community stakeholders. Support from the Plainfield Township trail millage and the Kent County Parks Foundation also played a key role in advancing regional trail development.
Funded entirely through $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars awarded through a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant to Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the project also includes approximately half a mile of new non-motorized trail along the east side of Northland Drive, linking to 7 Mile Road to the north and Cannonsburg Road to the south. Construction will take place in phases, with completion anticipated in late fall 2026.
For more information, please visit the Kent County Parks Department website. To download photos from the event and tunnel renderings, please visit this Dropbox link. Please email Christina Anthony with any questions.
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