Plaster Creek Family Park, 2401 Buchanan Ave. SW, won the 2020 Park Design Award from the Michigan Recreation & Park Association. The annual award is given to parks based on criteria involving innovation, local significance, aesthetic quality and functionality.
In early 2020, Grand Rapids Public Schools teamed up with the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department on a mission to create green schoolyards in park-deficient areas. Community involvement was an essential part of the renovation process.
In August, all improvements to the park were completed. The park features a stump forest, log jam and other play objects, which were made from local fallen trees. It also includes an eco-friendly rain garden, meadow planting and community picnic area.
Indoor dog park opens
The Pack Indoor Dog Park is now open for business. The highly anticipated dog park, at 5205 West River Drive, is a 10,000-square-foot space featuring a bar and restaurant, and is Michigan’s first off-leash indoor dog park.
Rachel Macqueen is the co-owner of The Pack. She said opening a business during the pandemic was not easy but the need for this concept is what inspired her to move forward with the project.
The Pack is designed to give both the dogs and their owners a safe environment to socialize and relax. “I could not find a place in Grand Rapids where both my dog and daughter could play safely year round. Not to mention the cold weather conditions,” Macqueen said.
Macqueen decided to partner with her mother to create a family-friendly space where both furry friends and pet owners could come together and stay warm.
“Staff is there to monitor a safe dog play experience and to also make sure that the facility stays clean,” Macqueen said. She reminds guests that masks are required along with the guidelines to keep a 6-foot distance from others.
The Pack currently is offering half- and full-day doggie day care — all carefully supervised. There are two different membership options, one being a five-visit punch card for $30, or the option for an annual membership. Visit thepackdogpark.com.
This story can be found in the March 2021 issue of Grand Rapids Magazine. To get more stories like this delivered to your mailbox each month, subscribe here.
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