Coldbrook Creek Water Testing

Did you know that our neighborhood is part of the Coldbrook Creek watershed?

Although most of the creek is underground, open parts of the stream can be found in Highland Park and on the campus of Aquinas College! Join our friends Coldbrook Creek Community for the quarterly water testing on Saturday, January 6! They will test for things like conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, phosphates, pH and turbidity. Water testing is easy to learn, fun to take part in, and only takes about an hour per site. No experience is required!

Quarterly Coldbrook Creek Testing

  • Saturday, January 6, 2023

  • 10:00am: Highland Park : Meet in parking lot at SE corner of park, off Grand Ave.

  • 11:00am: Aquinas College : Meet in the small lot between gym and St. Joe dorm, accessible via campus Fulton entrance.

Schedule for 2024

Events

  • 2024-04-20 : Highland Park Clean-up

  • 2024-06-15 : Eastern Park Clean-up

  • 2024-07-20 : Annual Party In The park

  • 2024-09-14 : Dumpster Day

Meetings

  • 2024-01-09 : Board Meeting & Master Plan Engagement 🍕

  • 2024-02-13 : Board Meeting (2024 events)

  • 2024-03-12 : Board Meeting

  • 2024-04-09 : Board Meeting

  • 2024-05-14 : Board Meeting

  • 2024-06-11 : Board Meeting

  • 2024-07-09 : Board Meeting

  • 2024-08-13 : Board Meeting

  • 2024-09-10 : Board Meeting

  • 2024-10-08 : Annual Meeting

  • 2024-11-12 : Board Meeting

  • 2024-12-10 : Board Meeting

The Rapid's "Thriving" Plan

Have you taken the survey for the Rapid's new master plan? The Transit Master Plan will strategically help The Rapid build a sustainable transit system to serve metropolitan Grand Rapids and surrounding region. The plan will take into account the recent employment and business growth in West Michigan and help align and serve the needs of the community.

The survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/thrivingtmpsurvey

The plan’s homepage serves as the central location for you to find out more information about the Transit Master Plan, learn about upcoming events, and ways you can provide feedback.

Master Plan Homepage: https://www.transitthriving.org/

There will be an open house at Rapid Central Station on Thursday October 19th

Where: The Rapid Central Station - Second Floor Conference Room (250 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)

When: 7am-9am, 12pm-2pm, 6pm-8pm

Board Meeting 2023-09-12

When: 2023-09-12, 6:30pm

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

Minutes 2023-08-15: http://bit.ly/3I1kvZR

Agenda 2023-09-12: http://bit.ly/3jrzz8O

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

  • September 16th, Park Cleanup

  • October 17th, Annual Meeting

  • October, Dumpster Day

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.

Let's go for a walk... to The Future!

The city has entered phase#2 of drafting the Community Master Plan that will define the vision of how our city will grow and develop over the next 20 years. The plan will address topics such as equity, housing, environmental justice, and economic development.

Please join us for a Move & Talk session.

Join us at: Intersection of Emerald & Malta

Saturday August 19th, 10:30am

This highly interactive, small group workshop will dive deep into planning at the neighborhood level. We will be exploring the past, present, and future of our neighborhood. This workshop will have three components about the neighborhood: storytelling, auditing what currently exists, and envisioning the future. The walk will last approximately 1-1/2 hours. A light snack will be provided, and participants are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

The entire route has sidewalks & ramped curb-cuts.

Have any questions? E-mail hpnagr@gmail.com or TXT/Call 616-259-4421.

RSVPs very much appreciated.

Board Meeting 2023-08-15

When: 2023-08-15, 6:30pm

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

Minutes 2023-07-18: http://bit.ly/3GcZNnt

Agenda 2023-08-15: http://bit.ly/3hNV5UV

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

  • August 19th, Walk-n-Talk (Master Plan)

  • September 16th, Park Cleanup

  • October 17th, Annual Meeting

  • October, Dumpster Day

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-09-12, 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.

Board Meeting 2023-07-18

When: 2023-07-18, 6:30pm

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

Minutes 2023-06-20: http://bit.ly/3hNwoIf

Agenda 2023-07-18: http://bit.ly/3PYNyiD

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

  • September 16th, Park Cleanup

  • October 17th, Annual Meeting

  • October, Dumpster Day

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-08-15, 2023-09-12, 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.

Call For Artists

Call for Artists Highland Park Pollinator Garden Project

*APPLICATION CLOSED*

About

The Highland Park Neighborhood Association is seeking an artist(s) to create site– specific original artwork to activate Highland Park and our neighborhood in general. The Highland Park Pollinator Garden project will consist of two permanent pieces to be completed by one or two artists. 

The selected artist(s) will receive $450 upon completion of their piece(s). In addition, HPNA will provide artists with a materials stipend of $200 (all materials must be approved by HPNA prior to purchase) + the canvas for the project. 

This opportunity is open to artists living in the city of Grand Rapids, with priority given to Highland Park neighborhood residents.

Solicitation and Project Schedule:

*installation in Highland Park will occur following Art Completion Deadline and is in collaboration with the City of Grand Rapids Department of Parks and Recreation.

Entry Requirements

  • Applications can be completed and submitted at: https://forms.gle/vGfJDC7U9UVYkq3N7

  • Provide a one paragraph statement describing your intended concept for this work 

  • Provide resume or cv (PDF)

  • Provide link to portfolio, art Instagram, or minimum 5 samples of previous work (jpg/3mb)

  • Selected artists will need to be able to produce design concepts in accordance with the provided timeline

  • Artists must be over the age of 18 and a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan

Selection Process

Artists will be reviewed and selected by majority vote by the HPNA board of directors.

​​Project Details

Piece one - Placer Marker: Vibrant artistic expression serving as a place marker of the Pollinator Garden located in Highland Park. Must contain the text “Pollinator Garden adopted and maintained by Highland Park Neighborhood Association (with “pollinator garden” larger than remaining text”) 24in x 36in - wood canvas

Piece two - Guide: An artistic illustrated guide to the contents of the garden. An artistic illustrated guide to the contents of the garden. Must contain text and illustrated interpretations of the below pollinators - may also contain text descriptions / up to artist interpretation. 20in x 20in - wood canvas or open to other consideration

  • Black Eyed Susan

  • Garden Phlox

  • Butterfly Bush

  • Lamb’s Ear

  • Mexican Sunflower

Media

Various mediums are welcome, subject to approval based on ability to withstand the elements in an outdoor environment

questions

Please send any questions to hpnagr@gmail.com and include “HPNA Arts Call” in the subject

Board Meeting 2023-05-16

When: 2023-05-16, 6:30pm

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

Minutes 2023-04-18:  http://bit.ly/3YHMX9b

Agenda 2023-05-14: http://bit.ly/3YQ7FDR

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

  • June 17th, Park Cleanup

  • July 15th, Party In the Park

  • August, Dumpster Day

  • September 16th, Park Cleanup

  • October 17th, Annual Meeting

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-06-20, 2023-07-18, 2023-08-15, 2023-09-12, 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.

Board Meeting 2023-04-18

When: 2023-04-18, 6:30pm

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

Minutes 2023-03-21: http://bit.ly/3WZl1vR

Agenda 2023-04-18: http://bit.ly/3WJAYG4

Proposed calendar of events for 2023 is as follows:

  • April 22nd, Park Cleanup

  • June 17th, Park Cleanup

  • July 15th, Party In the Park

  • August, Dumpster Day

  • September 16th, Park Cleanup

  • October 17th, Annual Meeting

Board meetings are scheduled for: 2023-05-16, 2023-06-20, 2023-07-18, 2023-08-15, 2023-09-12, 2023-10-17, 2023-11-21. These are the third Tuesday for every month except September when the meeting occurs on the second Tuesday.