If you walk the Reeds Lake Trail, you have to cross Reeds Lake Boulevard at one point. City officials explained the reason before this year's construction season. As of May 2026, the boulevard had a 5-foot sidewalk on its north side only, so with no paved path on the south side, trail users had to cross the road to reach it. Manhattan Park sat just past that gap, close to the lake but not connected to the loop. This year East Grand Rapids started closing that gap. The new roundabout near Manhattan Park is the first piece you can see. The rest of the project will decide whether the east end of Reeds Lake works like one continuous walk.
One Grant, Five Pieces
The work is paid for by a single federal grant. On Monday, May 18, the East Grand Rapids City Commission approved $1.5 million in Safe Routes to School funding in a 4–2 vote, MLive reported. The grant covers every part of the project. Safe Routes to School is a federal program run by the Federal Highway Administration, and the Michigan Department of Transportation distributes the money. It pays for infrastructure that makes walking and biking to school safer for children.
Here is the package, with what the public record shows as of mid-October 2026:
| Piece | What was approved | Status as of Oct. 12, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic circle | Roundabout at the three-way intersection of Reeds Lake Blvd. and Manhattan Rd., meant to calm traffic | In place, according to the City's October newsletter |
| South-side sidewalk | 5-foot concrete walk on the south side of Reeds Lake Blvd., El Centro Blvd. to Manhattan Rd., about half a mile | Not confirmed in published updates |
| Manhattan Road connector | 10-foot concrete path linking Manhattan Park to the Reeds Lake Trail | Not confirmed in published updates |
| Cascade Road path | 5-foot walking path on the north side of Cascade Rd., Oak Hollow Dr. to Park Hills Dr., with a pedestrian refuge island | Not confirmed in published updates |
| School-area upgrades | ADA crossing and ramp improvements, new bike racks near the three elementary schools and the high school | Not confirmed in published updates |
According to the May report, construction was expected to start in July and wrap up by fall. In all, the city planned to add just over a mile of new sidewalk paths. That was a forecast. It doesn't confirm that the work is finished. The City posts current conditions on its Construction Updates page, which is the best place to check before planning a walk around the southeast side of the lake.
The 10-foot Manhattan Road connector is the piece that matters most for the park. It is twice as wide as the 5-foot boulevard sidewalk, and it is the link that turns Manhattan Park into part of the loop rather than a short trip off it.
The Roundabout Came First, With Wildflowers
The October 2026 issue of the City's East Express newsletter suggests taking a drive down Reeds Lake Boulevard toward Manhattan Park to see the new roundabout and its landscaping. The Public Works team planted 50 pounds of locally sourced wildflower seed on the embankment, and the City says the flowers were already filling in as the season winds down. The City plans another round of planting next spring.
The circle was approved for traffic calming. It sits where the half-mile sidewalk and the park connector were planned to meet. Slower cars at that corner make it a better place for people on foot to cross. City leaders described the purpose of the whole package this way when the grant passed. Mayor Katie Favale told MLive:
"Creating safer pedestrian connections between neighborhoods and schools is an important long-term investment in accessibility, mobility and overall quality of life within our entire community."
In that same report, a city official described the improvements as safe pedestrian routes through areas that had historically been disconnected. Around Reeds Lake, the clearest example of that disconnection is the stretch between the trail and Manhattan Park.
October 25 Fills the Park
The biggest day at Manhattan Park this fall comes in two weeks. Manhattan Park CX, the final stage of the 2026 Grand Rapids Cyclocross season, runs Sunday, October 25. The city's Parks & Recreation calendar lists it as "Kisscross Cyclocross," from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the same date, so you may see either name.
Here is the published race-day schedule:
| Time | What's happening |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Registration and check-in open |
| 10:00 a.m. | Race C preride and staging |
| 10:30 a.m. | Race C start: Open 9–14, Girls 9–14, C Womens, C Open, C BC |
| 11:15 a.m. | Race A preride and staging |
| Noon | Race A start: A Womens 50+, A Open 50+, A Womens, A Open |
| 1:00 p.m. | Kids and costume participants stage |
| 1:15 p.m. | Free one-lap Kids Race and Costume Parade |
| 1:45 p.m. | Race B preride and staging |
| 2:15 p.m. | Race B start, run in the reverse direction: Girls 15–18, Open 15–18, Single Speed Womens, Single Speed Open, B BC |
| 3:15 p.m. | Awards |
The 1:15 p.m. kids' race is free and is also a costume parade, which makes it a natural part of the Halloween week. The City calls the day family-friendly and invites people to come cheer the riders around the Manhattan Park course. The published materials don't include viewing areas or spectator logistics. Full details are on the Grand Rapids Cyclocross site.
The race also explains why the park connection matters. A course that pulls in riders of every level and families with small children is exactly the kind of day when a protected route from the lake trail does the most good. If the connector is open by the 25th, plenty of people will be walking it for the first time. If it isn't, the roundabout still slows traffic at the corner.
What the Park Holds on an Ordinary Day
Most fall weekends at Manhattan Park are quieter than race day. The City's listing shows trails and a walking path along a nature area, plus a playground, a sledding hill, baseball and adult softball diamonds, a soccer field, a sand volleyball court and tennis courts. It also lists a pavilion and shelter, picnic area, charcoal grills, benches, a drinking fountain, restrooms, open space and parking.
That range of uses is why connecting it to the trail matters. A lake walk could take in the nature-area trails. A picnic at the pavilion could start on foot from home. In December, the sledding hill becomes the reason to go. Mayor Favale's welcome in the October newsletter recommends a walk or bike ride through the parks and says Manhattan Park is lovely at this time of year.
Leaf Season and the New Paths
New sidewalks and paths come with a seasonal duty. Loose-leaf pickup in East Grand Rapids starts today, Monday, October 12. It runs from the second full week of October through Friday of the first full week of December, and the City gives Monday, December 7 to Friday, December 11 as that final week. During the service, residents can put leaves, yard waste and food scraps out without containers.
The City's rule is that material goes along, next to or in the street without blocking the traveled part of the road, bike lanes, sidewalks, other mobility infrastructure or storm drains. The Department of Public Safety enforces violations that obstruct streets, bike lanes, sidewalks and mobility infrastructure. Depending on the location, the City says some properties may need to tarp their piles with weights or use authorized containers. Along Reeds Lake Boulevard, a new sidewalk means one more surface to keep clear. The City's yard waste page has the full rules.
The Next Link Around the Lake
Manhattan Park isn't the only lakeside park in planning. The City picked Abonmarche from 14 proposals to plan Phase II of Waterfront Park. WGVU reported that the firm's bid was just over $88,000. City documents describe a $500,000 federal grant match and a proposed scope that includes accessible trails and boardwalks, overlooks, wetland work, an outdoor classroom, signage, more parking and a toddler play area.
The timeline is still a plan. An April 23, 2026 City memo set final plans and specifications for October 2026, bidding for December 2026 or January 2027, and construction "tentatively" for spring 2027. Spring 2027 is also when the City expects the second round of wildflower planting at the Manhattan Park roundabout.
Changes like a roundabout, a trail connector or a reworked park shape everyday life around Reeds Lake, and they can also shape how a home near the lake fits your plans. If you'd like to talk through what the east end of the lake looks like from your own front porch, Linda S Pell would be glad to hear from you. You can find more about the city on the East Grand Rapids neighborhood page. Let's Connect.
