VIRIDIS Design Group

09/22/2026

Nestled within Riverside Park, Mayor’s Grove transforms a shaded, quiet corner into a destination for gathering, discovery, and connection to the natural landscape. This week, we celebrated its official opening alongside community leaders, honoring former Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and her lasting commitment to Grand Rapids’ public parks, urban tree canopy, and meaningful access to nature.

We are grateful to City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation for the opportunity to help shape this corner of the community, and to our partners at Katerberg VerHage Inc. for their thoughtful collaboration and attention to every detail.

"Blessed are those who plant trees under whose shade they will never sit."

08/21/2026

08/17/2026

We’re getting into the back-to-school spirit with the official opening of Western Michigan University's Valley Oaks Residence Hall, just in time to welcome the newest Broncos to campus.

Designed around an innovative vision for campus living, the mass timber residence hall prioritizes student wellbeing, social connection, and environmental sustainability. We were honored to contribute complementary site design that creates opportunities for both quiet rejuvenation and community gathering, including an outdoor fireplace, patios, lounge areas, study spaces, hammocks, and flexible lawn areas.

Thank you to WMU and all our project partners for the opportunity to be part of this team. Congratulations to everyone involved, and best wishes to all Broncos for a memorable year ahead!

Partners: Hanbury, The Christman Company, Fishbeck, Britt, Peters & Associates, Inc., Millies Engineering Group

08/03/2026

Small in size but big in purpose, Sunset Park creates space to gather, unwind, and connect with nature.

Carefully designed to foster neighborhood connection, support ecological function, and enhance the scenic beauty of the Lake Michigan coastline, Saugatuck Township’s pocket park renovation is officially complete. At the ribbon cutting last week, community members shared how this public space is already becoming a favorite place to meet new friends or recharge with a moment of quiet contemplation.

Our sincere thanks to Saugatuck Township for entrusting us with this project. Congratulations on another step toward more welcoming and restorative community spaces.

Construction Partner: Apex Contractors, Inc.

Photos courtesy of Saugatuck Township

08/01/2026

Last call for our GR friends to take this survey for GR parks and Recreation! Help shape the future of our parks system! City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation

The 2027 Parks & Recreation Strategic Master Plan is a citywide planning effort that will guide future investments in parks trails recreation programs and public spaces across Grand Rapids. Built through extensive community engagement the plan will create a shared vision for a more connected wel...

07/30/2026

Congratulations to Gull Prairie Preserve on their milestone groundbreaking ceremony yesterday!

We have been honored to contribute to the master planning of this scenic 160-acre community greenspace in Richland, Michigan, since 2018. Our work has included evaluating site opportunities, comparing the property's historic and contemporary ecological conditions, and establishing a vision for sustainability, site organization, aesthetic character, and low-impact stormwater management utilizing native landscapes. With Phase 1 now officially underway, the vision is beginning to take shape through the construction of a welcoming entrance, pavilion, and accessible trail in the site's southeast corner.

Partners: GEI Consultants, Inc., Katerberg VerHage Inc.

07/06/2026

A reminder that every corner of public space can be playful, connective, and welcoming, no matter the scale.

For the charming downtown of Fennville, the newly opened City Square Park was designed to invite community members to linger in every season, with a splash pad to cool down in summer heat and a cozy fireplace to gather around in the cold months. The space works to bring economic vibrancy to local businesses, providing a gathering place to host pop-up events and support downtown’s social district. All that and more in just 0.15 acres of former vacant lot, creating a human-scaled community gathering place on Main Street.

Congratulations on your new space, City of Fennville! We are thrilled to be a part of it.

Partners: Midwest Construction Group, Bazen Electric

07/01/2026

Happy one-year anniversary, Coryn!

Although we’ve known Coryn since her time as a VIRIDIS intern, this week marks one year since she officially joined our team as a Landscape Designer. In that time, she’s brought thoughtful design, creativity, and a genuine passion for creating places that connect people with each other and the environment.

Coryn has been a tremendous asset to our team, both as a designer and especially in community engagement, where her warmth, curiosity, and positive energy help build meaningful connections with the communities we serve.

We’re grateful that Coryn chose to continue her journey with VIRIDIS after her internship, and we’re excited to see her continue to grow as a designer. Please give it up for Coryn!

06/23/2026

Last week, we proudly celebrated our firm's 20th anniversary with many of the people who have supported us along the way, including family and friends, consultants, clients, and community leaders. It was an inspiring evening as we reflected on two decades of collaboration, partnership, and growth.

We are grateful for all that we have accomplished together and excited for the opportunities and possibilities ahead. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our story!

06/22/2026

📣 You’re invited to help shape the future of the our parks, trails, recreation programs and public spaces through the development of our 2027–2032 Parks and Recreation Strategic Master Plan! From future investments to improvements to programming throughout the parks system and more, this plan will serve as a roadmap for our department.

✍️ To kick things off, we've launched a survey to help identify common priorities, learn how you use our parks, and explore new opportunities for recreation and connection.

🙋 No matter how often or how little you visit a park or attend a program, we want to hear from you! Your experiences and ideas will help inform the next chapter of Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation.

🔗 Stay tuned for more ways to engage with the master plan and get started with the survey at https://engage.grandrapidsmi.gov/w70366