Advisory committees Overview
Formerly known as the Christian Athletic Complex, Covenant Park is located at 3724 Shaffer Ave. SE. The City accepted a donation of the 109-acre parcel in May of 2020 through a substantial gift to the Kentwood Community Foundation from an anonymous donor with the condition that the property will be used by the City for parks and recreational purposes and that it be named Covenant Park. The site features open spaces, walking trails, softball fields and a clubhouse.
To ensure that future development and use of Covenant Park aligns with the Parks and Recreation Business Plan, Parks Master Plan, Non-Motorized Trail Plan and the extensive public engagement obtained by the Parks, Trails and Recreation Advisory Committee along with our regional partners, two advisory committees were established on October 12, 2020, to begin development of a long-term plan for Covenant Park.
This process ultimately seeks to determine how the property will align with local parks and recreational needs while concurrently exploring regional competitive sport opportunities that could bring added value to our local efforts.
Covenant Park Advisory Committee for Active and Passive Recreation
Committee Expectations
The Covenant Park Advisory Committee for Active and Passive Recreation will:
- Gather, review and prioritize active and passive improvement ideas, concepts and plans for Covenant Park;
- Create community-based subcommittees as necessary to complete its tasks;
- Make recommendations to City Commission on how identified improvements will align with the Parks and Recreation Business Plan, Parks Master Plan and Non-Motorized Trail Plan to meet the needs of the community;
- Review and prioritize sustainable funding options to accomplish the prioritized improvements; and
- Take such other actions as directed from time to time by the City Commission.
Members:
- Emily Bridson, City Commission
- Robert Coughlin, City Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission
- Christopher Furner, community member
- Mark Giles, community member
- Jill Gorkowski, Parks and Recreation Commission
- Maurice Groce, City Commission
- James Hayes, Parks and Recreation Commission
- Karmen Johnson, Parks and Recreation Commission
- Fridah Kanini, West Michigan Kenyans, A Glimpse of Africa
- Ed Kape, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission
- Tarwo Konbloa, West Ottawa High School soccer
- Mimi Madden, Parks and Recreation Commission, Kentwood Public Schools Board of Education
- David Moore, Parks and Recreation Commission
- Dustin Mosley, Parks and Recreation Commission
- Phillip Nguyen, Vietnamese Community Association of Grand Rapids
- Darius Quinn, Planning Commission
- Laurie Sheldon, community member
- Adam Shilling, community member
- Kevin Small, Parks and Recreation Commission
- Billy Smith, community member
- Travis Tate, community member
Covenant Park Advisory Committee for Regional Competitive Sports
Committee Expectations
The Covenant Park Advisory Committee for Regional Competitive Sports will:
- Gather, review and prioritize improvement ideas for regional competitive sports, concepts and plans for Covenant Park;
- Create community-based subcommittees as necessary to complete its tasks;
- Make recommendations to City Commission on how identified improvements will align with the Parks and Recreation Business Plan, Parks Master Plan and Non-Motorized Trail Plan to meet the needs of the community;
- Review and prioritize sustainable funding options to accomplish the prioritized improvements; and
- Take such other actions as directed from time to time by the City Commission.
Members:
- Shea Abbgy, Great Lakes Disc
- Betsy Artz, City Commission
- Rick Baker, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
- Ron Draayer, City Commission
- Sanel Fazlic, Bosnian Cultural Center, Advisory Council for Bosnia and Herzegovina. All American Athletic Academics soccer at Aquinas College, Kentwood Community Foundation
- Mike Guswiler, West Michigan Sports Commission
- Adetunji Ifaturoti, High school soccer for Caledonia and Byron Center, Michigan Fire Juniors
- Fridah Kanini, West Michigan Kenyans, A Glimpse of Africa
- Tom McKelvey, City Commission
- Sam Moore, Kent County Parks Foundation
- Tim Mroz, The Right Place
- Phillip Nguyen, Vietnamese Community Association of Grand Rapids
- Sam Nichols, Michigan Sports Academies
- Bob O'Callaghan, Kentwood-Wyoming Chamber of Commerce
- Kevin Polston, Kentwood Public Schools
- Ram Ravikumar, MIGR Cricket Club
- Paul Richards, Grand Rapids Pickleball Club
- Josh Sheldon, Midwest United FC
- Doug Small, Experience Grand Rapids
- Monica Sparks, Kent County Commission
- Dan Frayer, West Michigan Mountain Bike Alliance
- Michael Zoerhoff, Kentwood Public Schools
Meeting Schedule
March 22-March 25: Preliminary site tours
Monday, March 29 at 6 p.m. - electronic/virtual meeting- Kickoff meeting with committees combined
- Agenda
- Electronic/Virtual Meeting Info
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Active and Passive Recreation Data
- Regional/Competitive Sports Data
- March 29 meeting minutes
- Joint meeting of advisory committees
- Agenda
- Survey Results Presentation
- June 14 meeting minutes
- Joint meeting of advisory committees
- Agenda
- July 19 meeting minutes
- Joint meeting of advisory committees
- Agenda
- Aug. 2 meeting minutes
- Joint meeting of advisory committees
- Agenda
- Aug. 23 meeting minutes
- Joint meeting of advisory committees
- Agenda
- Covenant Park Conceptual Plans
- Initial Amenity and Program Analysis
- Walma Property Conceptual Plans
- Sept. 13 meeting minutes
- Joint meeting of advisory committees
- Agenda
- Covenant Park and Walma Property Conceptual Plans
- Covenant Park Cost Estimates
- Walma Property Cost Estimates
- New Covenant Park Feasibility Study
- Oct. 18 meeting minutes
- Joint meeting of advisory committees
- Covenant Park Conceptual Plan
- Covenant Park Phase I
- Walma Property Phase I
- Covenant Park Priorities Exercise Results
- Nov. 15 meeting minutes
Park Imagery
Following are links to a video and photos of the property for reference:- Drone video footage
- Aerial view of ball fields looking southwest
- Aerial view of a golf course and pond
- Aerial view of a soccer field, ball fields, trees and open space
- Aerial view of trees and open space
- Aerial view of open space and a nearby road
- Covenant Park sign in winter
Committee Documents and Information
- 2017 Non-Motorized Trail Plan
- 2018 Parks & Recreation Business Plan Main Document
- 2019 Overall Parks Master Plan Document
- 2019 Parks, Trails and Recreation Advisory Committee
- 2018 West Michigan Sports Commission Multi-Field Study
- 2016 Destination Asset Study
Get Involved
Interested in getting involved and serving the community? We welcome residents to participate in a variety of boards and committees and are always accepting applications. Please send completed committee applications to mayor@kentwood.us.