Where to find the best parkrun near you

Grand Rapids launched its first official parkrun at Riverside Park in 2019 and now draws an average of 185 participants each Saturday at 9 a.m.

Wellness programs in the city have expanded since the pandemic, with city data showing a 34 percent rise in registered outdoor fitness events between 2022 and 2025. Residents cite lower costs and easy access as reasons more people join group runs along the Grand River instead of gym memberships that average $45 monthly.

Riverside Park and Ah-Nab-Awen options

The Riverside Park course starts at the parking lot off Monroe Avenue NW and follows a flat 5-kilometer loop past the amphitheater and under the bridges. Runners meet at 8:45 a.m. for brief instructions from volunteer marshals before the 9 a.m. start. Ah-Nab-Awen Park, located two miles south on the same river trail system, offers a second weekly parkrun that begins near the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and uses the paved path toward the Sixth Street Bridge. Both sites provide free parking and portable restrooms on event days.

Local organizers from the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department coordinate with volunteer timers who upload results to the global parkrun database by Sunday afternoon. The department reports that 42 percent of participants in 2025 were first-time runners, many referred through the city’s Healthy Streets initiative that added bike lanes and wayfinding signs along Ottawa Avenue.

Practical steps for new runners

Participants should arrive 15 minutes early to sign a one-time online waiver on the parkrun website. No registration fee applies, though runners often donate to the volunteer-run coffee stand that sells $3 pastries from local bakeries. Those seeking a measured training plan can download the free parkrun app that tracks personal bests and sends reminders for the next Saturday event at either park. City officials plan to add a third route near John Ball Zoo by fall 2026 if volunteer numbers continue to grow.