Is Bellknap Hill’s Major Overhaul Still A Possibility?

For many years, Belknap Park has been a destination for viewing the Grand Rapids skyline and a great place to have a picnic. The park got a refresh back in 2020 that added new pavement, swings, and better lighting, which made the lookout even nicer.

Grand Rapids as a whole has seen major construction projects start and finish in the last 10 years, and while the city has followed through on almost all the projects it detailed in its GR Forward plan 10 years ago, one of the projects they announced has seen little movement.

Tommy McNeill, Townsquare Media

It's one I've been very interested in as a resident of the Belknap neighborhood: a major overhaul of Belknap Hill that would connect the park to Division Ave. below.

Belknap Hill Remodel Project

Back in 2024, plans and a blueprint were released to build a new ramp and stairs to provide easier access to the street below, whether on foot, by bike, or in a wheelchair. It was a welcome plan that would finally see the "Death Stairs" of Grand Rapids removed and rebuilt to accommodate more people.

So, where do things stand since then?

Is The Belknap Hill Remodel Project Still Happening?

The project, officially titled Hill + River Network, is in a complicated state, according to MLive. A $13 million grant was approved earlier this year for new stairs up the hill and safety/accessibility improvements to Division Ave. below, with construction running from later this year through 2028

READ MORE: Grand Rapids 'Death Stairs': The Stairs At Belknap Lookout Park

However, the most ambitious part of this overhaul, the ramped walkway leading from the street below to the hill up top, is in the same limbo state that FOX 17 reported on back in 2024.

Provided by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.

This quote from this interview with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Managing Director of Planning and Design, Mark Miller, explains the situation:

“The hill itself is mostly sand, so it's not real stable,” Mark explained. “So you can't come in here and just clear-cut everything and build your stuff and then replant it.”

This is where things still stand, with an additional complication reported by MLive that parts of the property included in the planning would require approval from multiple property owners in the area.

Provided by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.

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As a result, the biggest and most expensive part of the project is still rather far off, but something we all hope to see eventually. You can view MLive's full breakdown of the City's standing on 11 of its announced long-term projects here.