Officials hope to create an expanded park space on both sides of the Thornapple River, with the Ada Covered Bridge as its centerpiece. The new park will include land that currently comprises Leonard Field and property on the western edge of the bridge that Ada Township acquired in June of 2023.
Joshua Hulst is Co-Chair of the Connecting Community campaign.
“We had an opportunity through Cheri DeVos’ gift of some of the land that’s here to be able to say, ‘We need a downtown park. We need some opportunities to continue to grow this community from park, from recreation space?’”
The new space amenities will include downtown access to a splash pad, pickleball courts, a dog park, playground, and picnic spaces, along with an enhanced trail system.
“We’re also looking at how do we take the Thornapple River and really make that even more of an asset to the community through preservation of the space, but also through walking paths and through access to it to be able to use that as part of our downtown piece.”
Fifteen acres across the Thornapple River from Legacy Park will offer almost three miles of new walking trails that will connect to existing trailways around the township and into downtown Ada.
Private donors have already contributed $7.3 million toward the $8.5 million goal.
“And now we’re in a spot where we’re asking the rest of the public to be able to come and support us and get us over the finish line.”
You can find out more information online at ConnectingCommunityCampaign.com
