Wyoming

A one-room schoolhouse on a small plot of land was the genesis of Kelloggsville, a suburb of the city of Wyoming. The land was donated to community members by Francis Kellogg in 1859 but soon expanded as the neighborhood grew. Today, Kelloggsville is a full-fledged community with quiet residential areas, seven schools and scenic parks. Its proximity to established industry has also contributed to it becoming the second most-populated community in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. "The auto industry and the cereal packing industries are close by. It's a bastion of industry," says Javier Rodriguez, the owner of and broker with Lake Michigan Realty Mgmt. He's been selling in the area for 16 years. Some older dwellings have been renovated and outfitted with modern finishes, while others maintain their midcentury stylings with paneled walls and warm wooden framing. Popular architectural styles include brick or log-sided Cape Cods, single-story bungalows, bi-levels, and raised and single-story ranch-style homes. They are often situated on lots of less than 1 acre and sell for between $125,000 and $315,000, increasing in price as they grow. Newer builds tend to boast custom traditional and contemporary styles and can sell between $280,000 and $365,000. Condos and mobile home parks offer additional housing options. Residents have access to two popular school districts. "You can use the school district from Kentwood and Kelloggsville, so there's more school choice," Rodriguez says. Families who choose Kelloggsville Public Schools can send their kids to including Southeast Kelloggsville Elementary School, Kelloggsville Middle School and Kelloggsville High School, all graded a C or better on Niche. At Kelloggsville High, students can choose from over a dozen extracurricular activities, including robotics, theater, and archery clubs. Kelloggsville is also home to Grand River Preparatory High School, ranked the No. 6 best charter high school in Michigan by Niche. Kelloggsville is home to several community green spaces, the largest of which is Ideal Park. This 100-year-old recreational space was devastated by a tornado in 2014 but rebuilt in 2020. It features a universally accessible playground, picnic areas and a basketball court. Visitors can also enjoy Buck Creek, which flows through the middle of the park, creating a peaceful ambiance. Historic structures on the grounds that survived the tornado include an Art Deco-style bridge and a log cabin lodge. A paved pathway connects to the Interurban Trail, which follows a former railroad corridor through the heart of the community. To access sporting facilities, residents can head to Kelloggsville Park across town. Its softball diamond, tennis and basketball courts are regularly used for league and independent play. The park also serves as a trailhead and rest stop for the Interurban Trail. Residents can find most stores and restaurants along 54th Street, which turns into Kellogg Woods Drive to the east and Gezon Parkway to the west. Large retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, Big Lots and Meijer sit within the neighborhood's boundaries, and popular fast-food chains like Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, and Culver's sit along the busy thoroughfare. There are also some local dining options here, like New Beginnings, a Grand Rapids breakfast staple, and Greco's Pizza, known for its homemade pizza rolls and specialty pies. The Kent District Library's Kelloggsville Branch shares a campus with the local high school, making it a popular student hangout. The library hosts a weekly Teen Zone club on Tuesdays after school, where kids ages 11 to 17 can hang out with friends over snacks and games. Other library offerings include seasonal craft parties and regular history lectures. Kelloggsville is also home to Craig's Cruisers, which touts itself as West Michigan's largest family fun center. It's advertised as a trampoline park, but its other attractions include go-karts, zip-lines and mini golf. Kelloggsville is hugged by two major highways, U.S. Route 131 and Michigan Highway 6. Residents can easily access downtown Grand Rapids by driving about 8 miles north on Route 131. Residents can also catch The Rapid public buses into the city. Stops are along Eastern Ave SE, 60th Street SE, Clyde Park Ave SW, Division Avenue S, and outside the Meijer grocery store off Route 131. To travel by plane, residents can head 8 miles east to Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

Large custom homes sit on generous sidewalk-lined lots in quaint cul-de-sacs in South Grandville, a friendly suburban community in the city of Wyoming. “I went shopping in Grandville–not on purpose, I think I was sort of in the area–and the people were just so friendly, and I thought, ‘I want to live in Grandville,’” says Lia Reau, a local and the owner of the popular line dancing school Lia’s Line Dance. But South Grandville isn’t only known for its kind residents. Its family-owned golf course and mix of planned communities and sprawling farmlands create a unique suburban-meets-rural feel that sets it apart. When it comes to housing, homebuyers can choose between custom contemporary builds, 20th-century dwellings and new luxury condos, nearly all of which sit along placid streets away from major thoroughfares. That said, South Grandville residents can easily access downtown Grand Rapids by hopping on U.S. Interstate Highway 196 just outside town. Many homes here were built after 2000 and boast contemporary styles featuring subdued blue and grey siding and three to four bedrooms. These newer builds start at around $330,000 and can sell for over $690,000. Some 20th-century homes also pepper the neighborhood, offering more architectural diversity with bi-level, Colonial Revival and ranch-style homes. These older dwellings sell for between $295,000 and $430,000. Townhouses and condos are also available for homebuyers looking for less property. These two- to three-bedroom units were also mostly built after 2000 and can sell for between $215,000 and $542,000. Kids may attend schools in the Grandville Public School District, including Grandville Grand View Elementary School, Grandville Middle School and Grandville High School, all graded an A-minus or better on Niche. At Grandville High, students can choose from nearly two dozen advanced placement courses. The neighborhood is also home to Tri-Unity Christian School, a private independent Christian school serving kindergarten through twelfth-grade students. Shopping and dining options are plentiful in South Grandville’s Wilson Town Center shopping mall, which sits along the neighborhood’s northern border and includes familiar retailers and eateries like The Home Depot, Marshalls, and Big Boy, a popular American Diner chain. A Costco is just across the street, making running errands easy. Several small businesses also dot the streets, like Lia’s Line Dance, which has been operating for over 30 years. For additional shopping and dining options, residents can be found in Grandville Marketplace just north of town. South Grandville may not have any public parks, but the family-owned Maple Hill Golf Club serves as a centerpiece for this neighborhood. The club was established in 1978 and features a 17,000-square-foot pro shop, an 18-hole executive course, an all-grass driving range, and outdoor heated ranges for winter. With a repair shop, golf simulators, and experts available to teach lessons, Maple Hill Golf Course is a one-stop shop for golf lovers. For a traditional public park, residents can head to the 94-acre Gezon Park, about 1 mile away, where meadows and woodlands are bookended by a playground, walking trails, sports fields, and a seasonal splash pad. South Grandville residents can head just a few miles north to neighboring Grandville to enjoy community events, including the popular Grandville Christmas Parade and Art and Chocolate Walk. Downtown Grand Rapids also offers exciting nightlife opportunities, like monthly line dancing nights at The Grand Celebration Center off Alpine Avenue. “It’s a really cool place, and people and my students can go there and just dance all night long,” Reau says. Busy highways run through South Grandville, making it easy for residents to get around via car. U.S. Interstate Highway 196 cuts through the northwest corner of town and leads to downtown Grand Rapids, about 10 miles away. Michigan Highway 6 sits along the neighborhood’s southern border and leads to Gerald R. Ford International Airport, 17 miles east. The community is also home to the Wyoming branch of the Corewell Health Care Center, a hospital within the nationally recognized Corewell medical group system. Public transit is not easily accessible here, so most residents rely on cars to get around.

Named for the 94-acre public green space at its center, Gezon Park is a suburb of Wyoming, Michigan, the second most-populated city in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. It’s primarily residential and offers highly-rated public schools, expansive recreational spaces, nearby hospitals, and easy access to downtown. “There’s a real sense of community. Everyone seems to know each other well,” says Vito Dolci, a Realtor with Dolci Group at Five Star Real Estate and a lifelong West Michigan resident. "And it's convenient. The highways are right there; the hospital is right there. And I think there's a misconception, looking at the map, that it's far from downtown, but with the highways being so close and with the lack of traffic, you can get there in about 15 minutes." This densely populated community has plenty of subdivisions, offering a variety of single-family homes on quarter and half-acre lots. Popular architectural styles in this neighborhood include ranch and custom contemporary designs, with most featuring a minimum of four bedrooms, three baths, a garage, and front and back yards. Many new construction options allow prospective buyers to plan their dream homes from start to finish. They sit on lots featuring grassy front yards, flanked by tall trees. Prices range from $300,000 for 1,400 square feet to $715,000 for 3,700 square feet. For those looking for something smaller, the area also offers a small variety of one- and two-bedroom condos within planned communities, averaging about $220,000 for 1,100 square feet. Area kids may start school at Grand View Elementary, which serves pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and is one of several elementary schools that serve the area. They move on to Grandville Middle School and Grandville High School. All three schools are a part of Grandville Public Schools and are highly rated on Niche; Grand View Elementary has an A- and both Grandville Middle and Grandville High have A ratings. Grandville High serves about 1,800 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 18-to-1. It offers multiple clubs and organizations for students, including Art Club, Ping-Pong Club and Equestrian Club. For outdoor enthusiasts, the nearby Kent Trails, a 15-mile regional trail system, offers a flat multiuse route built along an abandoned railway. The trail begins in Grand Rapids at the northernmost end of Millennium Park and extends through Grandville, Walker, Wyoming and Byron Township. Gezon Park, for which this community is named, is 94 acres of parklands divided into two sections for distinct use. The park's north end has a community feel and features a playground, basketball court, walking trails and a picnic shelter. The south end is an active sports park with athletic fields for baseball, softball, and football. The south end also features a splash pad for kids to cool off in the summertime. Golf enthusiasts tee off at Pines Golf Course, which sits just north of Gezon Park, is a public 18-hole course featuring a driving range and two practice greens. Gezon Park affords traditional amenities, like Family Fare Supermarket and The Fresh Divide grocery stores, gas stations, drugstores and fast-food restaurants, most concentrated in Bayberry Market, a shopping center off Byron Center Avenue. Residents often head there to cross everything off their to-do lists or dine out at the chain or locally-owned restaurants there. Monelli’s is a sports bar and neighborhood favorite for its traditional American fare, like burgers and salads. Little Mexico offers burritos, tacos, and other Mexican standards in a laid-back, casual environment. The University of Michigan Health-West Hospital, conveniently located in the heart of the neighborhood, offers multispecialty care at several facilities, including the former Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital and the Metro Hospital. Route 6 and Route 131 line the neighborhood’s southern and eastern sides, respectively, and offer quick access to downtown Grand Rapids, less than 10 miles north. For those times when residents need to go farther, the Gerald Ford International Airport is equally close, about 12 miles east of the neighborhood.

Sprawled around the premier Pines Golf Course and beloved Palmer Park, Chateau Hills features quiet suburban living close to shopping and major thoroughfares. Several subdivisions make up this community, offering homebuyers quite a diverse selection. That said, homes don’t come up for sale often in this community, so those interested may want to keep their eyes peeled for listings. Thanks to the wooded lots and nearby Palmer Park, houses in the community can feel like weekend vacation homes despite being surrounded by the City of Wyoming conveniences and only about 8 miles from downtown Grand Rapids. Many homes in Chateau Hills cropped up between the late 1970s and 1990s; however, new construction properties can be found on the east side, in the Cross Creek Greens subdivision. Standout architectural styles throughout the neighborhood include Tudor, Victorian and Colonial Revivals. However, the most common house here is the ranch-style home, typically displaying midcentury modern architecture. Manufactured residences can be also found in the neighborhood, specifically in the Ferrand Estates subdivision. Overall list prices range between $270,000 and $546,000. The median price of a single-family home is $345,000, which is about the cost of a three-bedroom, two- to two-and-a-half-bathroom property. Chateau Hills is split between two school districts. Students on the east side attend Wyoming Public Schools. They can start at Oriole Park Elementary, which has a B on Niche, before going to Wyoming Intermediate, rated with a C-plus on Niche. From there, they can move on to Wyoming Junior High and graduate from Wyoming High — both of which have B-minus ratings. Young learners on Chateau Hills’ west side attend Grandville Public Schools. Unlike their eastern peers, they can start school at West Lake Elementary, rated with an A-minus. They can continue to Grandville Middle and graduate from Grandville High, both schools rated with an A on Niche. Grandville High features a robust list of athletics, including rugby, tennis, water polo, dance, gymnastics and competitive cheer. Residents of Chateau Hills have plenty of access to outdoor recreation and relaxation. Local golfers enjoy the Pines Golf Course, one of Grand Rapids’ premier public golf courses. Aside from an 18-hole course, this facility features two practice greens and a spacious driving range. And just north of the golf course, tucked at the end of a suburban street, the George P. Tilma Nature Preserve is a lush 30-plus-acre alcove of old-growth forest and wetlands. “The Wyoming Parks and Recreational Department does a fantastic job with the parks and trails,” says Sarah Takens, a Realtor with RE/MAX of Grand Rapids. This is especially the case regarding the neighborhood’s gem, Palmer Park. “Palmer Park has trails through the woods and pavilions and picnic tables for large family gatherings,” Takens says. This grand green space spans 300 acres. Its trails are groomed for cross-country skiing in the winter, giving folks three distinct 2-mile loops to enjoy. Noble Restaurant is dedicated to serving the community fresh, scratch-made meals with plenty of vegan-friendly options. It may be easy to miss its shopping center location along 44th Street, but it’s hard to forget the comfort food breakfast and lunch classics, from delectable waffles to Whitefish and chips. Folks also roll up their sleeves and find a seat at Wing Heaven, a locally owned restaurant specializing in piles of chicken wings with a plethora of sauces, from mango habanero to honey heaven. As for day-to-day shopping, there are many options within a 5-mile radius of the neighborhood, including Target, Family Fare Supermarket, Meijer and more. U.S. Route 131 runs north and south less than a mile from the neighborhood. Folks living in Chateau Hills can take this main road a little more than 5 miles north to reach downtown Grand Rapids. Carless commutes are simple as well, thanks to the Rapids bus stops along 44th Street.

On the outer edges of Grand Rapids, Byron Center Park peacefully sits near the Grand River in the Wyoming area of Michigan. Though mostly residential, its southern boundary consists of 44th Street and a hub of shopping, convenience stores and dining. Grand Rapids is a short northward drive or bus ride away, meaning this neighborhood is able to showcase a suburban atmosphere along its gridded streets. Essentially serving as the heartland of the region, Byron Center Park does serve as the centerpiece of several neighborhoods between Route 6, Interstate 196 and Highway 131. Classic, traditional ranch homes are a hallmark of the Wyoming area, and they comprise a large portion of the Byron Center Park neighborhood. Many are located on cul-de-sacs and side streets removed from the traffic of main thoroughfares, with Craftsmans, split-levels and retro flair of Tudor homes also mixed in among the ranch architecture. Other styles can include Cape Cods, and bungalows, and some apartments can even be found on 44th Street. The price range here typically falls between $100,000 and $350,000. Many of the similarly-designed properties have a driveway with a walkway winding to the front steps of the home, and straight sidewalks run parallel to the roads and intersect with the driveways as they unfold down the street. Students in the Byron Center Park neighborhood can start their schooling at Gladiola Elementary School, which hosts kindergarten through fourth grade and rates at a B-minus with Niche. Wyoming Intermediate School follows with fifth and sixth grades, scoring a C-plus. Both Wyoming Junior High School and Wyoming High School receive grades of B-minus from Niche, with each school hosting three grades. Wyoming High also provides its enrollment the opportunity to join athletic teams like golf, tennis, track and competition cheerleading. Lemery Park lies in the southern half of the neighborhood, spanning 87 acres and encompassing courts for basketball and tennis, fields for baseball and softball, a playground and more. Residents can also access the Buck Creek Nature Preserve Trail. “There are so many great parks to visit,” says Sarah Takens, a Realtor with RE/MAX of Grand Rapids. “There’s also the walking path and boardwalk along Buck Creek that’s so beautiful any time of year. My brother’s National Guard unit actually built the boardwalk.” On the northern boundary, a small trail winds its way to Prairie Park, where a playground, skate park and wetland environment await. Kent Trails also runs through Wyoming, a pathway connecting multiple regions in the area. On 44th Street, Noble Restaurant prides itself on offering inclusive eating, which incorporates vegan-friendly dishes into its menu. Russo’s Pizza has been in operation for more than seven decades, and Grand Rapids Fishery is located near the center of town and gives residents a spot to sate their seafood cravings. If baked goods are on the daily menu, Imperial Bakery and Crumbl Cookies have sweets lining their shelves, while Mr. Burger has fast-food choices and Russ’ is a longtime staple of the Byron Center Park area. Groceries and other general home needs can be picked up at the local Meijer and Target. For a day of entertainment, Craig’s Cruisers Family Fun Park has a wide array of choices. Visitors can zoom around the go-kart track, bounce and splash on the bumper boats, try their hand at mini-golf and then relax with a meal. Boutique specialty stores, from David Delski’s Prime Meats to D. Schuler’s Fine Wine & Spirits, can also be found in Byron Center Park, as well as larger retail chains like Cabela’s for outdoor necessities. Strip malls are another place where some retail shops are located in the neighborhood, and the University of Michigan Health-West Hospital campus is a few minutes south. Interstate 196 flashes along the shores of Lake Michigan before curving inland on the western side of the state. Byron Center Park lies near the middle of a triangular area between three major routes, with 196 to the northwest. Route 6 runs far to the south, while Highway 131 is to the east. Via 44th Street or 36th Street, residents have a pair of straight shots right to 131, but the interstate and Route 6 are a bit further away.

Small 20th-century homes sit snuggly along gridded, sidewalk-lined streets in Clyde Park, just 5 miles from Grand Rapids. Many homes here sit below the median home price in Wyoming City of $251,380, making it popular with first-time homebuyers. "There are some properties that you can buy for $150,000 to $200,000, so you don't always need two people to buy a house," says Javier Rodriguez, the owner of and broker with Lake Michigan Realty Mgmt. He's been selling in the area for 16 years. Wyoming isn't known for walkable commercial areas, but residents can find major retailers in two district shopping corridors in Clyde Park. The neighborhood is also home to The Kent District Library-Wyoming Branch, the district's largest library branch. It offers a slew of events and clubs aimed at engaging the community. Most homes were built between the 1930s and 1950s. They sit snuggly along quiet maple and sidewalk-lined suburban streets. Homes in the area move quickly due to competitive pricing. "We've been having fewer listings right now, so when houses come up, we get multiple offers," Rodriguez says. Smaller one- to four-bedroom craftsman bungalows, Cape Cod and workmen cottages can sell for between $120,000 and $200,000. Larger three- to four-bedroom Colonial Revival, ranch-style, Cape Cod and craftsman cottages can start around $200,000 and sell for more than $320,000. U.S. Route 131 sits just outside the neighborhood and connects Clyde Park to downtown Grand Rapids, just 5 miles away. Clyde Park is served by Grand Rapids Public Transportation's Rapid buses. Stops are located along Michigan Highway 11, Clyde Park Ave SW and Michael Ave SW. To travel internationally, residents will need to head 9 miles east down 44th Street SE to Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Rogers Plaza Town Center, along M-11, features grocery stores and fast-food options. Ollie's Bargain Outlet is a national discount store chain selling everything from home appliances to groceries. Residents can also find a Harbor Freight Tools hardware store and a Goodwill thrift store in the Plaza. Additional shopping options can be found along 36th Street, including Dollar General, CVS and Seoul Market. Restaurants like Maya Mexican Grill & Bar and Frankie V's Pizzeria & Sports Bar are also located along the main drag. Dense woods surround an open field in Lions Park, located on the neighborhood's southern end. This minimalist park offers a place to picnic or play with a furry friend. Residents are also only a short drive away from other Wyoming parks. At Palmer Park, residents can hike or cross-country ski through the woods, and at Pinery Park, kids can climb on playground equipment, and groups can picnic under shaded pavilions. Kids may attend schools in the Godwin Heights Public School District, including West Godwin Elementary School, Godwin Heights Middle School and Godwin Heights High School, all graded a C-plus or better on Niche. At Godwin Heights High, students can earn college credits by taking dual enrollment classes or online Advanced Placement courses. For a private school option, parents can consider AnchorPoint Christian School. It serves preschool through sixth-grade students. The Kent District Library-Wyoming Branch is currently the largest in the library system. It offers many programs throughout the year, including kids' story times, a new mothers' support group, and adult craft nights. The city of Wyoming hosts several annual community events. One popular event is the Valentine Dance. It invites kids to bring a parent or guardian to the Wyoming Senior Center for an evening of crafting, dancing, and snacking on desserts. Another family-friendly event is the Trick-or-Treat Trail, held in early October. Attendees donning costumes gather in Lamar Park to collect candy, jump on bounce houses, and more. Downtown Grand Rapids is also just 5 miles away. There, residents can attend dozens of popular annual events, including World of Winter, the largest winter festival in the U.S. Residents can enjoy more than 100 events, musical performances, and outdoor art installations displayed throughout the downtown area during the 57-day celebration.