Ben Swayze, director of Kent County Parks, and Dan Frayer, president of the West Michigan Mountain Bike Association (WMMBA), described plans to build a 6-mile mountain-bike trail system at Johnson Park that could extend to 8 miles if fundraising goals are met.

Swayze said the Johnson Park project is being positioned as the western trailhead for the Grand River Greenway, a multi-county route that will link communities across the area. "It's right at our western border," he said, noting earlier improvements in 2023–24 such as an expanded parking lot. He added the county is upgrading a restroom to a four-season facility, replacing the playground and creating gathering places around the trailhead.

Frayer said WMMBA is partnering with Kent County Parks and Spectrum Trail Design on the project. "They are working with Spectrum Trail Design, which is arguably one of the best trail builders in the nation," he said, describing a layout that includes an inner green loop for beginners, families and adaptive riders and adjacent progressive features for more advanced riders.

Why it matters: organizers said the trail system will improve nonmotorized access from urban areas and may draw visitors who spend at nearby businesses and lodging. Swayze and Frayer cited national case studies and local Greenway partners, saying visitors who travel for trail experiences can contribute significantly to local economies. Frayer referenced estimates of $400 to $1,200 per visit in similar case studies.

Costs, fundraising and funding: Frayer gave construction context—professional trail work can run "$12 plus per linear foot," and original quotes for the initial 6-mile system were about $500,000. WMMBA is running a fundraising campaign to add two more miles; Frayer said the campaign was "a quarter of the way" as of the morning of the interview and that WMMBA was working to raise an additional $100,000 to reach an 8-mile system. Swayze said a $400,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources, which the county board will be accepting on Thursday, will help pay for the restroom project, playground replacement and gathering spaces.

Progress and timeline: Frayer said just under 4 miles of trail have been roughed in and the group is targeting a finish date of summer 2026, with some cushion in the schedule. WMMBA and Kent County Parks will use volunteer maintenance days and coordinated finish-work events to complete the trails; organizers said volunteer opportunities and project updates will be posted on WMMBA's site.

Where to follow: Frayer pointed listeners to WMMBA.org and the group's Drop Down trail page for project updates and volunteer sign-ups, while Swayze noted kentcountyparks.gov for county project information.

The county board is scheduled to accept the Department of Natural Resources grant at an upcoming meeting; organizers said they hope the trail system and some park amenities will be ready by summer 2026.