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Ideal Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 310 Google reviews · Running trail in Grand Rapids, Michigan · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Ideal Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Ideal Park
“I catered a wedding here and everything was very clean, playground was new and kids loved it, Pavillion was cheap to rent out I believe it was 70 to rent out 1pm to 6pm.”
“Since the tornado a few years ago tool out all of the beautiful trees, the parks looks very open and huge.”
“Bring some chairs as there's no much seating, and especially not many places to sit where there's shade.”
I grew up right down the road from Ideal Park and have been coming here since I was a child. After the tornado completely leveled it in 2014 this park is totally different, but my kids enjoy it just as much as I did as a child. The playground is fenced in with one entrance for safety and is covered by decent shade.
This park is lovely. There’s a shaded trail along the creek. The bathrooms are clean. The playground has a fence around it. There are two shaded pavilions. There are many other tables scattered around.
Super nice park. Lots to do for kids and adults. Bring some chairs as there's no much seating, and especially not many places to sit where there's shade.
Nice park with a small play area for small kids. Nice benches for older folks. Play structure for climbing and a sort of modern merry go round. Couple of modern swings. Good restrooms. Lots of birds and space for gatherings such as family reunions. Buck creek runs through. Paved parking. Paved trails. Very nice.
Trail conditions & character
“Since the tornado a few years ago tool out all of the beautiful trees, the parks looks very open and huge.”
“Bring some chairs as there's no much seating, and especially not many places to sit where there's shade.”
“We rented the pavilion for my daughter’s birthday party and it was perfect for our needs with clean, operational restrooms next to the playground.”
“very nice brand new play area for kids , nice expansion to the park plenty of parking.”
Plan your run at Ideal Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Websitewyomingmi.gov
- Phone(616) 530-3164
- Social Instagram
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Grand Rapids
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Creekside Park
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Stauffer Station Park
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Ken-O-Sha Park
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