Please contact us for questions regarding the project:

parkinfo@grcity.us

616-456-3696 

Visit our Parks and Recreation website: click here 

Visit our Parks and Recreation Facebook Page: click here

Project Update:

The MLK Community Center Grand Opening will be on February 21, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Doors will open at 1:45 p.m.

Last updated: January 2026

We’re thrilled to announce the grand opening event for the new MLK Park Community Center! This open house style event will allow you to explore the building, learn about programming starting in March, and more. This is a free, family-friendly celebration and we hope you will join us!

Things to Know:

• Doors open at 1:45 p.m.
• Ribbon cutting happens at 2 p.m.
• Our first 100 guests will receive free GR Gold basketball tickets.
• Light refreshments will be available for the first 200 guests.

RSVP or share the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1J6qD3BHsz/

If you're using a smartphone, please navigate the website using the drop-down menu (click the three horizontal lines) located on the top right of this page. 

Summary of Engagement (2018-2025)

Over the course of the MLK Community Center Project, the Parks Department sustained community engagement using a variety of outreach methods.

This included:

• 55+ in-person engagement touchpoints, including stakeholder meetings, public meetings, focus groups, and community events
• 5 community surveys covering topics from facility layout to recreational priorities
• 3 rounds of direct mail outreach, reaching over 1,500 households per mailing
• Hard hat tours and design co-creation sessions with neighbors and partner organizations
• More than 3,000 individuals directly engaged through meetings, events, and surveys

Contractor Highlights

• 27 different subcontractors
• 42 different trade categories involved
• 368 working days onsite with an average of 25 workers per day
• 56,000 bricks and 51,000 CMU blocks were used in the building

The MLK Park project at a glance

Below is an image of the MLK Park site plan. Key features on this plan are:

• New Community Center: The site plan features an outline of the previous Lodge to give perspective on the size increase for the new Community Center. The new Community Center will feature two community offices, a rentable event space, a full-size gymnasium, two rentable community rooms, and a fitness room for recreation classes. The history of the neighborhood and previous lodge will be preserved in a hallway gallery. 

• New Pool House building: The Pool House is where residents will purchase their pool pass and enter the pool deck. The Pool house building includes a pool staff kiosk, restrooms and both individual and family changing rooms. 

• Reconstructed parking lot:  The parking lot will be extended to include more parking spaces. 

• New playground: The new playground will be built with brand new playground features on the southeast corner of the Park (Alexander & Benjamin). 

• New fitness loop: The loop will add an additional recreation feature to the park. The loop will include exercise features along the path and will be constructed on the southwest corner of the Park (Alexander & Fuller). 

• Relocated community garden: The current community garden will be relocated and include new features. 

See image below for the new site plan. Click the image to make it bigger. 

Project Purpose and Timeline

Project Purpose + Vision:

• Enhance neighborhood safety and vitality by creating a welcoming hub of activity that promotes positive social connections, lifelong learning, and wellness for all ages.

• Ensure universal accessibility and inclusion, reflecting the diversity of the MLK Park neighborhood and meeting the needs of people of all abilities, backgrounds, and identities.

• Operate year-round as a dynamic gathering place, providing consistent and reliable access to programs, services, events, and resources through every season.

• Offer adaptable, multi-use spaces designed to support a wide range of uses (from family celebrations and cultural gatherings to youth recreation and community meetings) while ensuring affordability and access for local residents.

• Incorporate sustainable, efficient, and maintainable design strategies, including energy-saving systems, low-impact materials, and layouts that support long-term operational success.

• Honor the rich cultural legacy and vibrant identity of the King Park neighborhood, uplifting local stories and history through design, public art, and storytelling features.

Project Timeline:

Funding for the Project:

$1,050,000 - City Capital

$1,200,000 - Parks Millage

$1,000,000 - Third Ward Equity Fund

$6,000,000 - Michigan Economic Development Corporation Grant

$10,500,000 - City American Rescue Plan Act

$19,750,000 - TOTAL FUNDING & PROJECT COST

Project Partners