Board Meeting

When: 2026-09-09, 6:30pm

Where: Emerald Flats 750 Eastern Ave NE (use the west entrance)

Minutes 2026-07-08: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FnUk62ArEiZ75SQUkctDiofT4wQqwI8-QyQYEO2Ay9I/

Agenda 2026-09-09: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wHMZJVsPa6qX04H7-273mWwmCkK7nx4KNU3thjamvos/

Ward#2 City Commission candidate Bryan Cody will be a guest at this month’s board meeting.

Board schedule, minutes, and agendas are always available at /board.

The next board meeting will be held at this location will be the association’s annual meeting on 2026-10-14.

Board Meeting

At this month’s board meeting we will be hosting two guests: the Grand Rapids Office of Sustainability.

If you have any questions for either please let us know - hpnagr@gmail.com - and we will forward them on so they can have the most complete possible answers.

When: 2026-07-08, 6:30pm

Where: Emerald Flats 750 Eastern Ave NE (use the west entrance)

Minutes 2026-05-13: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cH5VB7_chMWnIwrJkSgLr_F2_s93woXxXcV8LnNsdJY/edit?usp=drive_link

Agenda 2026-07-08: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12J12-fk_LQ9TE_U7nZJD5sbghckfX_8YEOs2E3WaLs4/edit?usp=drive_link

Board schedule, minutes, and agendas are always available at /board.

Friends of Highland Park Pilot Program

Call for volunteers!

WHEN: Tuesday 6/23 anytime from 9am -11am.

WHERE: Highland Park Entrance on Lydia

WHAT:  The goal is to increase the visibility, safety and function of this entrance to the park. Volunteers will help clear light underbrush, weeds and small branches that restrict access. IF we have wood chips delivered, we plan to start laying a path that will lead towards the park's green space.

If you are interested please sign up so we can HERE so we can plan accordingly. We will have tools and gloves, but please wear closed toed shoes and outdoor work attire. We will have some bottled water and lite snacks for this event. 

For anyone who is a contact point for a group, if you could please push this to anyone else who may be interested in volunteering

Future dates:

  • July 10 Pollinator Beautification

  • Fall TBD Tree Planting

Board Meeting

At this month’s board meeting we will be hosting two guests: the Grand Rapids Planning Department and the Grand Rapids Food Co-Op.

If you have any questions for either please let us know - hpnagr@gmail.com - and we will forward them on so they can have the most complete possible answers.

When: 2026-05-13, 6:30pm

Where: Emerald Flats 750 Eastern Ave NE (use the west entrance)

Minutes 2026-03-11: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQDdiJvsusATDsuUTEx7DMl89gel9iw7E7m0WRks3mn2iVgMgr3qj1ge75nltJE61jH6K5MJXXrvB_O/pub

Agenda 2026-05-13: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTZWUqIRWRmw5m1Y6hu7syT6GxkLdXThpRp87OrTu_U5ZA_kb-k1LC3q3iDdxe3duAvhgMuFBGhpBUU/pub

Board schedule, minutes, and agendas are always available at /board.

Board Meeting

Board schedule, minutes, and agendas are always available at /board.

The next board meeting will be held at this location on January 13th, 2026

Board Meeting

Board schedule, minutes, and agendas are always available at /board.

This is the last meeting to submit nominations for the 2025 - 2026 board.

Phius House Tour

When: Sept. 11th, ~5:30pm
Where: 720 Eastern Ave NE
What: A tour of the new Phius Zero house constructed at 720 Eastern Ave NE. Some food will be provided.

The Highland Park Phius Zero house is a project by MI Net Zero. You can find at four minute introduction to the concept of Passive house here.
The home in question is a three bedroom 2 bath house with dedicated office space. Solar panels on the roof generate enough power annually for the home and to charge two electric vehicles.
The property has acquired the following certifications:

  • Phius Zero

  • DOE ZERH

  • GreenStar Platinum

  • Energy Star

  • EPA Indoor airPLUS

  • EPA WaterSense

June Park Clean-up Cancelled

Today’s park clean-up has been cancelled due to weather.

Cooling centers are available throughout the Grand Rapids area.

Please note that the availability of cooling centers may change based on weather conditions, power outages, or holidays. We recommend calling ahead to confirm their status or contacting 2-1-1 for the most up-to-date information.

Exodus Place
Daily, 9am - 9pm
322 Front Ave SW; 616-242-9130

Grand Rapids Public Library
All locations available during regular hours: grpl.org/locations
Main Library: 616-988-5400

Kent District Library
All locations available during regular hours: kdl.org/locations
Main Line: 616-784-2007

Lotus Brew Coffee
Tues - Wed 8am - 6pm, Thurs - Sun 8am - 8pm
211 Diamond Ave SE; 616-419-8613

Matthew's House
Mon - Fri 8:30am - 3:30pm
766 7th St NW; 616-233-3006

Mel Trotter Ministries
Cooling Center open daily from 8am - 7pm
No Services and Curfew remain in place.
Emergency shelter hours are 3pm - 8am daily. Curfew is 7pm unless documentation of reason.
225 Commerce Ave SW; 616-454-8249

West Grand Neighborhood Organization
Mon – Fri 8:30am – 5pm
754 Leonard St NW #2; 616-451-0150

Westminster Presbyterian Church
Mon - Wed 9:30am - 2:30pm
47 Jefferson Ave SE; 616-717-5581

Board Intro: Justin Kooreman

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is beginning 2025 with a series of introduction posts of our board members. Now you’ll be able to recognize them on the street; please say “hi!”.

Justin Kooreman
Board Role: At Large, board member for two (2) years.

I moved to Grand Rapids in 1996 and spent 17 years living in the Garfield Park neighborhood. After graduating from Michigan State University in 2014, I began my career as a hotel manager. This allowed for me to transfer across the country and work in many different cities. I had stints in Austin, Milwaukee, Chicago, and Salt Lake City. A very rewarding aspect of this journey was getting to see the diversity of these cities and their neighborhoods. 

During the Covid years I decided to return home and became a manager at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Grand Rapids. I soon thereafter was hired by ICCF Community Homes to work and live at the newly renovated Eastern School on the corners of Eastern, Malta, and Emerald. My role is the Community Connector, and I am a resource for the residents in the building as well as tasked to put on events intended to enhance and build our community. 

I have a great respect for the history of our building, for Eastern Park on the north side of our property, as well as for our neighbors and surrounding community. ICCF reintroducing Eastern School back into the Highland Park neighborhood, as now community of 50 apartments was important collaboration and I am proud to represent this as part of the HPNA board.

If you would like to support the Highland Park Neighborhood Association you can make donations at our donations page. The association is entirely funded by community support.

Board Intro: Corina VanDuinen

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is beginning 2025 with a series of introduction posts of our board members. Now you’ll be able to recognize them on the street; please say “hi!”.

Corina VanDuinen
Board Role: Treasurer, board member for two (2) years

I'm a settler and steward of ancestral land of the Anishinaabe: the Ojibwe, Odawa and Bodéwadmi people, also known as the People of the Three Fires.

I am a mother. I love animals. I co-parent three dogs. I've tended to this little plot of Earth for many moons; nearly thirty years. I love gardening. To watch the miracle of life, death, and rebirth in the story of a flower is pure magic.

I'm a romantic. I love all life, and I'm fiercely protective of it. We are all connected. Everyone and everything is essential and beloved. I wish for everyone to have access to the beauty and healing nature provides. Her trees, birds, rolling fields, and streams—we need them all—now more than ever. In these times of uncertainty, we need community now more than ever. We need safe, supportive spaces for everyone.

If you would like to support the Highland Park Neighborhood Association you can make donations at our donations page. The association is entirely funded by community support.

Board Intro: Liz Rennie-Gardner

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is beginning 2025 with a series of introduction posts of our board members. Now you’ll be able to recognize them on the street; please say “hi!”.

Liz Rennie-Gardner
Board Role: At Large, board member for one (1) year

Hi everyone! My name is Liz Rennie-Gardner and I have been living in the Highland Park Neighborhood for 3 years. I purchased my first home in the 49507 neighborhood and lived there for 2 years before marrying my now husband and moving into the home we live in now in Highland. Our house is very special to us. We are the second owners of a 1950 bungalow. The previous family planted apple, peach and pear trees that we cherish. We have kept lots of original charm that the previous owners, a craftsman who worked at the Kindel Furniture Factory, had added. 

Not only do we find ourselves so lucky in our home but also this neighborhood. We know and engage with our neighbors all around us. The history of the neighborhood is still alive if you just look around you. We love the massive spruce trees, the beautiful little creek right down the street and the deer and turkeys who mosey through our yard. 

Community building has been a driver in my adult life. I have worked as a bike mechanic at the Spoke Folks, a previous non-profit co-op space in town, at Switchback Gear Exchange as an event organizer, and even used my art degree to host a gallery show at our home. Recently my career has led me to work as fabricator and mechanic at a small family owned snow plow shop. It is such a fun job. I work with a small team and am learning a lot of new trade skills.
In my spare time I enjoy bikepacking, playing with our dogs, working in the garden and finding watering holes to swim in. 

With passions lying in equity, infrastructure, skill sharing and place making I found the Highland Park Neighborhood association a great place to get stuck in and help our neighborhood continue to grow into its full potential. 

If you would like to support the Highland Park Neighborhood Association you can make donations at our donations page. The association is entirely funded by community support.