Grand Rapids opens new $19.7M Martin Luther King Park Lodge.

A nearly 25,000-square-foot Martin Luther King Park Lodge in Grand Rapids will open Feb. 21 and includes a full-size gym, fitness classes and a 3,500-square-foot rentable event space; the $19.7 million project was funded by local millage, grants and federal ARPA funds.

Grand Rapids is opening a new Martin Luther King Park Lodge, a nearly 25,000-square-foot facility at 900 Fuller Ave. SE that will open to the public on Saturday, Feb. 21. The $19.7 million building replaces a 50-year-old lodge and is five times larger than the previous facility. City leaders said the project grew out of a 2019 quality-of-life study and input from hundreds of residents. The facility is designed to offer fitness, recreation and rentable event space for the neighborhood. Key details: - The facility is nearly 25,000 square feet and will open to the public on Feb. 21 at 900 Fuller Ave. SE. - It includes a full-size gymnasium for basketball and pickleball, fitness spaces and free gathering space with scheduled programs. - A 3,500-square-foot banquet-style event room will have capacity for about 200 people; classrooms will hold about 30. - The old lodge was demolished in spring 2024 and construction continued into early February with finishing touches reported during a Feb. 3 tour. - The $19.7 million project was funded by the city's parks millage, the Third Ward Equity fund, city capital funding, a Michigan Economic Development Corporation grant and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. Summary: The new lodge is described by city officials as a substantial transformation intended to expand recreational and rental options in the neighborhood and to change the park's feel. An open house is scheduled for Feb. 21, free recreational programming is set to begin March 2, and adult and youth classes are planned to start in March; registration was reported open for March and April.