By Dana Kroll, Uptown Marketing and Communications Specialist

Walk down Lake Drive or East Fulton Street this summer and you might notice something new. Tucked in alongside some of our Eastown district’s busiest thoroughfares are fresh bursts of color, texture, and life, by way of our newest landscaping additions. But this isn’t just “any” landscaping. These native plantings have been carefully chosen to be as thriving and as resilient as the people who call this place home.

These gardens didn’t appear overnight. They’re the result of months of planning, teamwork, and a shared belief that even small patches of green can make a big difference in how our community looks, feels, and grows.

First, a bit of background: The Uptown design committee is the all-volunteer team to be thanked for its collaboration with Uptown GR, Inc., for the maintenance and enhancement of our district’s public spaces and pedestrian experiences. There are many categories that fall beneath this umbrella! Today, we’ll dive a little deeper into the category of landscaping.

From  managing our annual landscape initiatives, to keeping the planters located throughout all of Uptown current with seasonal color, to partnership with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, there are a ton of behind-the-scenes efforts to keep our greenspaces healthy and beautiful. Did you know: Through our collaboration with FOGP, we have added more than 200 trees to our public thoroughfares since 2019? We have now ensured that every single tree well has been planted and are seeking further spaces to continue to add to Uptown’s shady canopy! The committee even helps to oversee the installation of festive holiday greenery on our street poles during the holiday season.

But this year, we discovered a way to go a step further.

During a landscape audit, our committee observed that some planting beds along Lake Drive and East Fulton were struggling. These high-traffic spots had soil that was worn down and grasses that just couldn’t keep up with the urban hustle. Instead of patching things up, we asked a bigger question: What if we reimagined these spaces to be both beautiful and sustainable?

That’s when we teamed up with Native Edge, a local landscape architecture firm known for its ecology-first approach. Together, we set out to create something that would thrive in tough conditions while also bringing fresh life to the district.

Over June and early July, the beds were prepped and replanted with native species—plants that can handle foot traffic, grow strong in our local soil, and support a healthier ecosystem. The refreshed beds also included thoughtfully spaced footpaths, to help lessen traffic on the plantings themselves.

The next time you pass by these new gardens, take a moment to pause, if you can. We hope you notice how these new “friends” soften the edges of busy streets and how they invite you in, with their beauty and their shade. Our committee’s goal will continue to be creating places that are welcoming, connected, and growing.  Not just in size, but in vibrance, diversity, and resilience.

Because, after all…when our district flourishes, so do we!