Project Background

Lyon Square is a City of Grand Rapids Park located at the terminus of Lyon Street at the Grand River and currently includes an amphitheater and river walk. Lyon Street includes everything west of Monroe Avenue up to Lyon Square and includes public space adjacent to the Amway Grand Plaza, Windquest, Exhibitors Building, and the Convention Center. Refer to the aerial photo below for the approximate location of the project area.

Project Goals

While one project, Lyon Square and Lyon Street reconstruction have different priorities and opportunities.

The Lyon Square portion of the project has the following goals:

• To provide enhanced green space through the design and installation of canopy trees, landscape planters and green infrastructure.
• To provide more opportunities to linger near the river by creating public seating, event space, outdoor lighting, and new paving.
• To improve the existing portion of the Grand River trail.
• To supplement and enhance prior interventions at The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck.

The Lyon Street portion of the project has the following goals:

• To provide a new snowmelt system.
• To provide enhanced public space activation and meaningful public space connection through a design that is informed by the business and property owners along the street.
• Provide more opportunities to linger in the space by creating public seating, outdoor cafe seating, event space, outdoor lighting, and new paving. Infrastructure enhancements, such as increased electrical outlets and utility connections, may be required to support the increased activation.
• Balance the service needs related to drop-offs and trash storage/removal for the hotel and Convention Center with the design of a high-quality and activated pedestrian space. This may include the design of shared street space as part of the solution.