By Dana Kroll, Uptown Marketing and Communications Specialist
Grand Rapids, Tuesday, August 5, 2025: Uptown GR, Inc. announces the completion of its latest endeavor to sustainably enhance its district and its pedestrian experience.
Through the work of a recent audit conducted by the organization’s design committee, an opportunity was identified to invest in revised landscape design across some of the district’s most well-traversed and challenged green spaces – in this case, a portion of the public planting beds along Lake Drive and East Fulton Street. The organization sought proposals from qualified landscaping contractors with the goal of engaging in partnership to enhance the aesthetic appeal and environmental quality of these urban areas by improving soil conditions and installing low-maintenance, high-traffic-tolerant plant materials.
The organization ultimately selected to engage with Native Edge, a landscape architecture firm that specializes in sustainable, ecology-first design. Says Wes Landon, Co-Founder: “The new native gardens along Lake Drive and Fulton Street offer an inspiring example of how sustainable, beautiful, and ecologically thoughtful landscaping can thrive in our urban public spaces. Our broader goal in this partnership with Uptown GR is to inspire both businesses and residents to embrace landscaping practices that promote our health, well-being, and the natural environment.”
Bed preparation and Installation took place over the months of June and early July and is now complete and ready to be enjoyed.
Design in Uptown means creating vibrant, welcoming spaces that are safe and enjoyable for residents, staff, and visitors. “Our team first identified that the previous tree lawn landscape cover was simply no match for the challenges that heavily trafficked urban thoroughfares such as these are presented with on a daily basis. This exercise then allowed us to recognize an opportunity to step in and do better for the neighborhood. By initiating and funding the replanting process with native species, we’re not just improving the visual appeal—we’re also investing in long-term sustainability and supporting a healthier, more resilient urban ecosystem. This is one small but meaningful way we’re working to uplift and steward our shared public spaces.” Ingrid Miller, Executive Director, Uptown GR, Inc.
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Uptown consists of four business districts: Eastown, East Fulton, Wealthy Street, and East Hills. The district is also home to five residential neighborhoods: Baxter, East Hills, Eastown, Fulton Heights, and Midtown. In all climates, UGRI celebrates its mission: to bring together people, partnerships, and possibilities to sustain a strong and vibrant urban district through planning, coordinating, and communicating with and between all sectors of the Uptown community and beyond.
For more information about this and all things Uptown, please contact Ingrid Miller.