Our History...

The Garfield Park, Burton Heights and Grand Rapids areas were purchased from the Indians by the United States Government with the Treaty of 1821. In 1826 Louis Campau established an Indian trading post. There was an Indian Mission station here as well. Then in 1833, Barney Burton moved to the area from New York. He purchased 320 acres from the U.S. Government bound on the east and west by Madison Avenue and Division and on the North and South by Burton and 28th streets.

In 1858 the Samuel M. Garfield family came to visit relatives. They liked the area and purchased a portion of the Burton farm. Samuel's son, Charles W. Garfield, replanted a 6 acre portion of the farm with 10 varieties of trees in 1892. This reforested farm land became known as the Burton Woods.

In 1914 Charles W. Garfield gave the Burton Woods to the Grand Rapids Park and Boulevard Association as a "forestry park." It was deeded to the city of Grand Rapids in 1921 to remain forever as a "forest preserve." On September 9th 1934; Charles W. Garfield, had a heart attack and passed away. He was burried in the Garfield Park under one of the trees he had planted near the Garfield Park Lodge.

The upstairs of the Garfield Park Lodge was the residence of the park's caretaker. The downstairs area was used for gatherings, meetings and parties, a tradition the Garfield Park Neighborhoods Association continues to this day. It was also used as a voting precinct and a kindergarten.

In 1960 and again in 1968 the City of Grand Rapids proposed to release the Burton Woods land and sell it as city lots. The people of the area joined together to protest the city's plans. After many meetings and letters, the group incorporated and applied to the city for the right to lease the woods and care for it. On January 6th 1970, the application was approved.

The Burton Woods became the Garfield Nature Center and is now under the City of Grand Rapids Department of Parks and Recreation. The Garfield Park Neighborhood Association rents the Garfield Park Lodge from the city and it continues to be the center for our efforts to preserve and improve the several neighborhoods we serve.

Our Mission Statement:
GPNA exists to preserve and improve the unique human and physical characteristics of the neighborhood through resident involvement.

Our Master Plan:
What is a Master Plan?
A Master Plan is a document that enables the City to determine both broad and specific goals for area land use, community resources, and citizen priorities. The Master Plan should reflect the interests of the people who reside within and around city neighborhoods. The Master Plan gives the City Commission, the Planning Commission, the Planning Department, and City staff a "working blue-print" with which to make decisions regarding community resources, zoning designations, traffic flow, historic preservation, and development. Therefore, the development of a Master Plan is an excellent tool only if it reflects the interests and concerns of the neighborhoods that it is meant to serve.

What can the Master Plan mean to Garfield Park area neighborhoods?
The Master Plan can and will effect land use, zoning, traffic patterns, parks improvements, and economic development.

Land Use
Do you want the industrial area in your neighborhood to expand, thereby tearing down several houses? - If yes, it could be an opportunity for more jobs to be located within walking distance of you and your neighbors. However, it could also be a way to lose more affordable housing in your neighborhood.

Whatever is best for your neighborhood is what can be decided during the development of the Master Plan. It provides residents with the opportunity to look at how the land in their neighborhood is currently being used and how it might be used in the future. One neighborhood may want industrial expansion, and another neighborhood may not - you now have the chance to examine what is best for your area and plan for its future.

Do you want the vacant lots in your neighborhood to be turned into a neighborhood park or new housing built there? Build a consensus in your neighborhood as to what you want with the vacant property and then have it incorporated into the Master Plan - it will have a much better chance of becoming reality this way. And, it will prevent the vacant lots from being used in a way not desired by the neighbors.

Zoning
Would you like to see more apartments in your neighborhood or less? Whichever you prefer can be accomplished by changing the zoning in your neighborhood. The development of a Master Plan provides the opportunity to examine zoning designations within your neighborhood and make adjustments according to how you want your neighborhood to look in the future. For example, if you want less density and your neighborhood is currently zoned R-2, the zoning could be changed to R-1A. The City of Grand Rapids will be updating its Zoning Code based on the results of the Master Plan.

Traffic Patterns
Is there too much speeding on neighborhood streets? This and other traffic flow problems can be explored through the Master Plan process. A traffic problem on one block needs to be examined in relation to traffic patterns throughout the entire neighborhood. The Master Plan process should assist neighbors in solving problems without simply moving them to other area.

Economic Development
Do you consider your neighborhood business or commercial district to be an asset to the neighborhood, presenting a positive image of the area? Do the businesses provide jobs for residents as well as goods and services needed by residents?

How neighborhood business districts can be redeveloped is an important aspect of an area that can be addressed by the Master Plan. The economic viability of a business area is critical to the well being of the surrounding residential area. The commercial district's redevelopment can incorporate land use and zoning decisions as well as economic development strategies.

Citizen Participation
Unless neighbors become involved in the Master Plan process, neighborhood desires (such as those given as examples above) will probably not be included and thereby will probably not become a reality. In fact, some one else may be deciding what should happen in your neighborhood in the future.

The development of a Master Plan provides the opportunity for neighbors to come together to plan for the future development of their neighborhood - the way they want it to be. Residents can unite with their business neighbors as well as other neighborhood stakeholders in deciding what kind of a neighborhood they want.