Creston

Up-and-coming energy along Plainfield Avenue

Plainfield Avenue is lined with local businesses, restaurants and the family-owned Kingma’s Market, the neighborhood’s beloved grocery store. “When people think of Creston, they usually think of our Plainfield corridor. We like to call it our own microeconomy,” says Gregg Hampshire, the neighborhood association’s executive director. “It’s a very walkable center. You can go get lunch or stop by your dentist and doctor. It’s booming,” he adds. Plainfield Avenue is expected to continue growing in the coming years as several new apartment complexes and ground-floor retail spaces move in. “It’s an up-and-coming area,” DeRooy. “Already over the last 10 years, the area has undergone a dramatic change, all for the better.”
Some of the street’s most popular restaurants include Lucy’s for homemade breakfasts and Choo Choo Grill, a staple for burgers since 1946. Café Mamo uses produce from local farmers, and Graydon’s Crossing is a cozy English gastropub. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Frosty Boy,” says Hampshire. “People wait an hour to get their ice cream, and it’s somehow worth it.”

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Events planned by the Creston Neighborhood Association

An active neighborhood association helps plan and sponsor community events within the neighborhood, including:

• Pancake Brunch: A neighborhood potluck with yard games and craft booths.
• Food Truck Fridays: Riverside Park’s summertime concert series and food event.
• Creston After Dark: Block party and artisan market hosted by a local arts initiative.
• Oktoberfest: A weekend of German beers and live entertainment at Riverside Park.
• Lights on Creston: Festive lights, trolley rides and visits with Santa.

Family-friendly amenities at local parks

Creston might not have the family-friendly amenities of upscale neighborhoods like East Grand Rapids, but its recreation spaces often cater to younger kids. There’s a local bowling alley, Northfield Lanes, and the small Van Belkum Branch of the Grand Rapids Public Library. Families may appreciate the splash pad at Aberdeen Park, and children under 17 can get into the Briggs Park Pool for just $1. “I think there’s still more to come for family friendly amenities, the more that demand rises for it,” DeRooy says.

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Recreation options at Riverside Park and Huff Park

Riverside Park is the largest park in Grand Rapids, with spots for fishing, kayak launching and disc golf along the water. It’s commonly used for festivals and is expected to connect to the citywide Riveredge Trail and White Pine Trail in the next few years. Over at Huff Park, floating boardwalks create a system of walking trails throughout preserved wetlands.

Private and public schools within Creston

The Creston neighborhood is served by Grand Rapids Public Schools, a district that tends to have lower ratings than surrounding suburbs like Forest Hills and Northview. There are still several highly rated options for schools within the neighborhood, including:

• City High Middle School: Top-rated, application-only public school with the International Baccalaureate program.
• ISJ Academy: Known for its relatively affordable Christian education for students up to eighth grade.
• All Saints Academy Lower Campus: Catholic school for kindergarten through second grade.
• NorthPointe Christian Elementary and Preschool: Large private school with high ratings and a nearby middle/high school campus.
• Wellspring Preparatory High School: Top-rated charter school with standout academics.

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Quick commutes to downtown with transit access

Downtown Grand Rapids and the city’s well-known Medical Mile are about 3 miles south. DeRooy says that proximity to the city center is likely going to attract medical students and healthcare professionals to Creston’s new apartments in the coming years. A public bus line runs down Plainfield Avenue to downtown in about 20 minutes, and the route into the city is mostly lined with designated bike lanes.