Park Upgrade Set to Begin Mid-April, Complete by Mid-August

KENTWOOD, Mich. — The City of Kentwood is set to begin a $600,000 renovation project on Rondo Station Park to update aging playground equipment and improve accessibility for all residents. The improvements are expected to begin in mid-April and wrap up by mid-August.

Rondo Station Park has been a neighborhood staple for more than two decades, but its equipment has remained unchanged during that time. The project aims to address both the age of existing equipment and growing needs for accessible recreation.

New Amenities Include Paths, Bike Station and Accessible Parking

Along with new playground equipment, the project will include a bike pump and repair station, new pathways through the park, accessible parking, and improvements to the trails. The trail improvements were identified as a significant need by both the city and neighbors.

Susan Arnold, Park Manager for the City of Kentwood, explained the decision to update the park.

Because of the age of the park, the equipment there is at the end of its useful life. And so we wanted to incorporate some of the amenities we've been able to incorporate in other parts.

Arnold emphasized that Kentwood has one of the biggest adaptive programs in Michigan, and the city is committed to making recreation accessible to everyone.

Huge proponent of having the world be accessible to everyone in every building and every part, so like everyone can experience the fun of recreation.

Residents Excited About Improvements

The Kurth family has brought their twins, Oliver and Evelyn, to Rondo Station Park for years. Nathan Kurth said they frequently use the park and are excited about the upcoming upgrades.

We like it a lot. It's the one that's definitely the closest to us. And we like coming here. It's got a lot of options for them to do. And the best thing is it's very accessible by car or by walking, biking.

Nathan has noticed that some of the older equipment needs updates, and he believes the park deserves the investment.

It could definitely use some improvements. You know, there's a lot of other parks that are in some better shape here, and I think this one deserves to have that upgrade as well.

Theresa Kurth, Nathan's wife, said the family frequently walks to the park during warmer months with their twins. She hopes the new pathways will provide more opportunities for neighborhood walks.

We like to take walks in the more summer months when it's nice and warm with our twins. And if we had more locations to do that in, I think that would be really helpful.

Creating a Neighborhood Gathering Place

The new walkways are designed to create a gathering place for the neighborhood. Nathan Kurth expressed his vision for the improved park.

You need a place that you can get together with children, with families and adults and teenagers, a place that you can safely get together, spend time together.

The project represents a significant investment in neighborhood infrastructure and reflects the city's commitment to accessible recreation for all residents.