GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — John Ball Zoo's parking expansion plan once again goes before county leaders. But residents remain concerned about it paving over a portion of John Ball Park.
"I remember thinking this is heaven," says Amy Hinman, who lives nearby the park.
That was her first thought when she moved into the neighborhood five years ago. Today, she's worried a piece of that heaven will be missing if the zoo paves over part of John Ball Park.
"We have been working really hard over the past five weeks to come up with something that makes sense for everybody," says Hinman.
The group Save John Ball Park will present a multi-point plan to Kent County leaders on Tuesday.
The plan asks that the zoo considers new developments coming to the city like the amphitheater and potential soccer stadium. They also hope alternative parking locations are reasonably explored, while also optimizing the zoo's current paved space.
"And we would like the county to prohibit further development on land that is designated as park space," says Hinman.
John Ball Zoo CEO Peter D'Arienzo sent a statement to 13 ON YOUR SIDE, which you can read in full here:
“John Ball Zoo is proud to be one of the most attended cultural attractions in Michigan, with more than 700,000 guests visiting this year and a more than $100 million annual net economic impact on our communities. As the Zoo and Kent County have grown in the last decade, so too has the need for safer and more efficient parking at the Zoo. The 2023 Amendment to our Master Plan was created alongside our neighbors throughout multiple engagement sessions during the last six years, and this plan improves safety, addresses parking and creates and preserves usable greenspace for the community. We believe it is the best solution among the various alternatives we examined. The 2023 Amendment includes less parking spaces and paved area than the already-approved 2015 Master Plan and will provide the footprint for a future parking garage that does not impede on the greenspace. We are very proud of our years of working alongside neighbors to come to a solution that works for the community, John Ball Zoo and Kent County as a whole.”
Hinman hopes both county and zoo leaders hear out their new proposal before making any final decisions.
"Let's think five steps ahead of that and find an alternative that doesn't destroy a part of the park," she says.
The parking expansion will next be discussed on Tuesday at the Kent County Finance and Physical Resources committee meeting. That meeting is at 8:30 a.m. in room 310 of the County Administration Building.
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