Dream Grand and Grow
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Dream Grand and Go has long been the invitation Experience Grand Rapids extends to visitors. Now, we’re proud to unveil a variation on that theme: Dream Grand and Grow!
Dream Grand and Grow is an award-winning 90-second video showcasing seven of the most exciting development projects shaping downtown Grand Rapids – projects that will make the city, already one of CNN’s 10 Best American Towns to Visit, an even more amazing destination for travelers … and an even more enjoyable home for residents.
Grand Rapids has been growing at a fast clip for years now – Forbes Magazine named it the #1 Big U.S. City with the Fastest-Growing Economy back in 2017 – but these seven developments collectively represent one of the biggest amenity investments ever made here, with a total cost in excess of $1.2 billion. They’re centered around the Grand River that runs through downtown Grand Rapids and together, they constitute one of the largest active river revitalization efforts in the U.S.
The projects are in various stages of progress, from in design to in construction to already complete. We’ve focused on just the next 3-5 years of development … there’s much more to come!
See Tomorrow’s Sights Today
Watch Dream Grand and Grow to accompany two Grand Rapids residents as they paddle down the Grand River and see the city transform around them. Then read Animating the Grand Rapids Development Scene to learn how we brought the future to life on screen with the help of local animators and other collaborators.
Seven to Grow On
Read our Glimpse Into the Future of Grand Rapids article for full details on each of the seven developments. Here’s a brief look at them, in order of their appearance in the Dream Grand and Grow video:
Each of these developments is expected to attract new investments in downtown and stimulate even more growth into the future!
Video & Project FAQs
Video and Project FAQs:
Was the Dream Grand and Grow video done with AI?
No! While much of the video is animated, Experience Grand Rapids insisted that the work be crafted by local artists. A team of five animators from ADA-based IDEOLOGY Productions spent more than 1,000 hours bringing the project to life. Two local residents served as on-air talent and a local music & sound design artist arranged the audio effects. Read our behind-the-scenes article on the video’s creation.
Why did you choose these seven developments to showcase?
These are the largest, most impactful downtown Grand Rapids developments occurring over the next 3-5+ years. Read our profile of the seven projects for details. Visit our Developments page for updates on other exciting projects.
Why are there horses in the river in the video?
They’re horses from the working 1928 Spillman Carousel at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, “galloping” to their home in the Museum’s Cook Carousel Pavilion, which has been renovated to make it more accessible, and detached from the main Museum to allow for uninterrupted trail connections along the Grand River.
Are the new developments accessible?
Grand Rapids prides itself on its accessibility – we are a certified “Destination Verified” site on Wheel the World, an online platform dedicated to enhancing global travel accessibility. Accessibility is/was a key consideration in all of these developments, from the new wheelchair-accessible chariot and ramps added to the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Spillman Carousel, to the accessible play space and accessible kayak launch being built at Canal Park along the Grand River Greenway, to the accessible parking, entrances, restrooms and seating options at the Acrisure Amphitheater.
Who is paying for these developments?
Like most major projects in Grand Rapids, these developments are being financed through a combination of private and public funding. Most private monies are from corporate entities and economic development organizations.
What will these developments mean for parking in downtown Grand Rapids?
According to city data, downtown Grand Rapids currently has 49,000 parking spots, about 4,800 of them in city lots and at street meters. The city’s free DASH (Downtown Area Shuttle) system makes it easy to park in more affordable outlying lots and ride to downtown attractions. The city is collecting and analyzing parking data through the end of 2025 to develop additional parking solutions that will accommodate increased demand due to the new developments.
What is the environmental impact of these developments?
The goal of the Grand River Restoration project is to return the river to a healthier, more natural state. More than 15 years in the making, the project has undergone extensive environmental reviews to ensure it will improve the river habitat for fish and mussels, increase biodiversity, enhance water quality and restore ecological balance. More than 14,000 native freshwater mussels were collected by hand and relocated in preparation for construction. The Lyon Square, Grand Rapids Public Museum and Grand Rapids Greenway projects are all about honoring and protecting the river’s natural resources for all to enjoy, and include the reintroduction of native plants to the river banks. The Acrisure Amphitheater project will include new park and trail spaces along the riverfront, transforming a previously disturbed industrial site into usable land. The Amphitheater and the Fulton & Market development are being built to LEED Silver or comparable certification level.
