| Ada Historical Society | 7144 Headley Street SE Corner of Thornapple River Dr. |
616-676-9346 |
| Ada Council for the Arts | 7882 Thornapple Club Dr. East of Dogwood Meadows |
616-676-2250 |
Ada Social & Community Organizations Monday, Mar 3 2008
Ada Living Ada Real Estate, Forest Hills Real Estate 5:44 pm
Ada Restaurants Monday, Mar 3 2008
Ada Living Ada Living, Forest Hills 5:42 pm
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Ada History Monday, Mar 3 2008
Ada Living Ada Real Estate, Forest Hills Real Estate 5:41 pm
The Two Worlds of Ada
July 12, 2007
Nearly a decade ago, Geri and John Wingo, who were living in the tight confines of the City of East Grand Rapids, decided they wanted to move closer to the open countryside. So they built a spacious house in rural Ada Township, about 15 minutes east of downtown Grand Rapids, packed up the kids, and moved there in the late-90’s. The family set up their new home in a swanky development near farm fields and rolling meadows yet with ready access to the region’s primary economic and cultural center.
“What I like is that there is still a lot of land and yet we are five minutes from anywhere,” says Geri Wingo, a former PR exec turned independent clothing consultant. “It is not so built up so there is still that small town feel but you have the advantage of city life. Everything we need is really close by.”
The case of the Wingo family in many ways illustrates both the opportunity and challenge now confronting pastoral Ada. On one hand, the idyllic area is far removed from the trappings of city life. Public WiFi hotspots are nearly nonexistent. Ada remains an unincorporated community, meaning it’s not part of any specifically organized municipality and governed instead as a township. And the place is flush with parks, wooded lots, farm fields, nature trails, rivers, and wide open spaces. Put simply, there’s plenty of room to grow.
On the other hand, pressure is mounting to maintain the basic elements that attract new residents and businesses and fuel the growth in the first place. Ada features a quaint village-like downtown with art galleries, excellent cuisine, and some basic services. It’s regularly rated one of the safer communities in the metro area and offers one of the state’s top performing school systems. And the community is home to the region’s richest families, commuter couples, and young families alike, all of whom want the best of both worlds: rural living and urban amenities.
“There are people who like one or the other and Ada offers each option,” said Township Planner Jim Ferro.
The challenge – and the opportunity – lies in preserving the unique, dual way of life.
Planning for–and Managing–Change
Clearly, Ada is booming, particularly in the past 10 years. Nearly 10,000 people were living in the township according to the 2000 U.S. Census findings. But an October 2006 study commissioned by local officials revealed that more than 15,700 people now live in the 49301 zip code. The analysis also projected the area would add approximately 1,500 households – a healthy 10 percent rate of growth – and exceed 17,200 people by 2011.
The average annual household income in Ada hovers around a robust $125,000. So planners like Ferro are bracing for rapidly rising demand for everything from new businesses and services to recreational opportunities to new homes and subdivisions.
In fact, the October 2006 study called for adding as much as 93,000 square feet of new commercial and retail space in the next five years. That would more than double the existing commercial retail space of 76,000 square feet in an unusually short period of time.
That presents plenty of opportunity for investors and the community. The area could use a good breakfast place, and an ice-cream parlor, according to resident Geri Wingo. The recent study backs her up, calling for additional restaurants, a modern food market, expanded art galleries, and more offices.
The mounting question for existing resident is ‘where will it all go?’ A November 2004 study commissioned by the township found that managing new development and growth, maintaining the rural atmosphere and small town feel, and preserving open space were top concerns. A majority of residents supported stricter wetland protections, modern regulations to protect waterways, wood lots, and agricultural land, as well as expanding and improving public parks.
“The public has actually been asking for more natural paths,” Jim Ferro says. “Ever since we first became involved in building non-motorized trails, we have public requests for more of them. We believe it’s an amenity that contributes a lot to the quality of life in the community.”
The township is responding. Two projects totaling approximately $3.5 million will add 16 miles of trails to the township in the next two years. Local leaders also recently released a plan to attract new businesses and commerce to the area while maintaining the village charm. Highlights include targeting new development in specific areas, redesigning a busy roadway, improving safety for pedestrians and bikers, as well as dressing up the business district with landscaping and decorative lighting.
“We want the village to keep its identity but it is important to attract business,” Ferro says.
Good Eats and Plenty of Pottery
The community certainly has a strong foundation to build on. For a bite to eat, Geri Wingo recommends the Schnitz East Deli, recently re-named The Ada Grill. The deli offers a full bar, the occasional art exhibit, and an outdoor deck allowing patrons to overlook the village below. And, like its sister Schnitz shop in downtown GR, the Grill offers up one of the best sandwiches in GR.
“They are huge, probably enough for three meals,” Wingo says.
The food scene also includes the Thornapple Daily Grill, part of The Gilmore Collection, which provides outdoor seating in the summer and a backyard perfect for a small reception or rehearsal dinner. To catch the game and a good pie, locals like Vitale’s Sports Pub and Pizzeria. And Zeytin, which features authentic Turkish cuisine, is the latest culinary addition in the central business district.
The district also features a diverse mix of local businesses. There’s something of a niche arts district forming with the emergence of a hub of unique pottery shops, including Betsy Ratzsch Pottery and Heather Lane Pottery. For a more interactive pottery experience, try The Mud Room where you can paint your own mugs, plates, or vases.
The Ada Bike Shop caters to the outdoors crowd with top of the line road bikes, canoes and kayaks, and other adventure equipment. There’s also a collection of upscale hair salons, an old town hardware, a consignment clothing shop, and a unique yarn shop, located in an historic yellow house, called the Clever Ewe.
Recreation Destination
The historic covered bridge spanning the Thornapple River is a popular destination for walkers and wedding parties alike. Built in 1867, the bridge has undergone its share of trials but it remains a popular attraction for history buffs, pedestrians, and photo shoots.
Roselle Park, located on the site of the former Ada Beef Company, is undergoing renovations this summer thanks to a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The 250-acre park, which includes one mile of waterfront on the Grand River, soon will include, among other things, observation decks for bird watching.
Ada Township Park and the E.E. Locke Arboretum, a collection of over 200 trees, also regularly attract visitors to the area. The 57 acre park features a woodland garden and a fishing pond for those under 12, senior citizens, and the physically disabled.
Ada also is located at the confluence of the Grand and Thornapple rivers, which provide plenty of opportunity for paddling, fishing, and other water-based recreation.
Best of Both Worlds
That’s just the sort of rustic quality of life that continues to attract residents like the Wingo family. Geri Wingo says the area’s exceptional schools played a major role in their relocation decision. Her daughter Taylor attended the Goodwillie Environmental School, which uses the natural world to teach kids learning, teamwork, and physical fitness skills. The school, part of the highly acclaimed Forest Hills District, caters specifically to 5th and 6th graders.
But the bottom line is that the Ada area is just convenient for their all-around family needs. Like a striking 35 percent of Ada residents, both Geri and John, a self-employed interior painter, work out of their home, and Ada’s location provides easy access into the central city as well as neighboring communities such as Lowell, Caledonia, and Rockford for meetings and jobs.
And with a daughter honing her equestrian skills, the Wingos appreciate the ability to easily tap into the rural life, too. Riding lessons are less than five minutes away.
“It’s the next best thing to actually owning a horse,” Geri says. “It is the best of both worlds being minutes away from where she rides and home. This way she gets to spend more time with the horses than if we lived farther away.”
“It is nice being out here because, while it is not right in the city, everything we need is really close by,” she adds.
By Liz Klimas
Local Bike Shop Tuesday, Jan 22 2008
Ada Living Shop Ada 8:51 pm
With spring on the horizon, dust your bikes off and go for a ride! If you’re in the market for a new bicycle, visit Ada Bike
Located in charming Downtown Ada, just minutes east of Grand Rapids, Ada Bike Shop carries Cannondale, Scott, Cervelo, Electra, Gary Fisher, Raleigh, and Transition bikes.
Egypt Valley/Cannonsburg Bike Trail in Ada Tuesday, Jan 22 2008
Ada Living Ada Bike Path 8:47 pm
This trail is suited for any ability level. It is not technical and can be ridden fast or slow. It is about 7 miles long. All trails are shared with hikers. It is open Feb. 1st – Sep. 14th.
Directions: 4 Mile Rd NE & Dursum Ave NE Ada, MI 49301 Coming from Ada: North on Honey Creek West on 4 Mile North on Dursum Ave. Coming from the west or north: East on Cannonsburg Rd. South on Egypt Valley Ave. East on 4 Mile North on Dursum Ave.
History of the Covered Bridge in Ada Monday, Jan 21 2008
Ada Living Ada Bridge 10:44 pm
The Michigan State Legislature authorised Ada Township to borrow up to $3,000 for building or maintaining bridges in the area. Construction of this bridge, also known as the “Bradfield Bridge” was carried out in 1867 by William Holmes.
The Michigan State Legislature authorised Ada Township to borrow up to $3,000 for building or maintaining bridges in the area. Construction of this bridge, also known as the “Bradfield Bridge” was carried out in 1867 by William Holmes.
Prior to construction of the upstream dam, the Thornapple River was prone to flooding. According to a historical marker posted at the bridge, “it is said that farmers used to drive wagons loaded with stones onto the bridge during high water to hold it to the foundation.”Repair work was carried out in 1913 to modify the trusses, and replace the timber abutments with reinforced concrete. The bridge was part of an important artery into the village of Ada until 1930, when the main highway was rerouted and a concrete bridge built further down the Thornapple River. At that time the bridge was closed to automobile traffic, reverting to pedestrian use only.
In 1941 the Kent County Road Commission and the Works Progress Administration made extensive restorations, re-roofing the bridge with new protective creosote shingles and replacing many of its decayed underlying supports with new beams. The Road Commission purchased a nearby barn to supply wood for replacement of badly deteriorated elements.The bridge was listed with the Michigan State Register on May 9, 1969 and with the National Register on February 16, 1970. It was awarded a Michigan Historical Marker (site L0075) on August 28, 1974. It is one of four existing publicly owned covered bridges in Michigan.
In 1979 the roof collapsed due to heavy snow, and the bridge was restored using funds raised by private donations. Shortly after the repairs were finished, the bridge was completely destroyed by fire. The citizens again rallied, this time with the help of the Amway corporation, headquartered in Ada, and rebuilt it once again. The replica bridge, now resting on concrete abutments, is 14 feet wide and 125 feet long.
The bridge is now open only to pedestrian traffic and connects the Village of Ada on one side of the Thornapple River with a park on the other side. It is maintained by the Kent County Park system.
Shaggy Pines – Named 5th Best Dog Park in the Nation Monday, Jan 21 2008
Ada Living Ada, Dog Park, Shaggy Pines 10:40 pm
This unique, 20-acre private park is located in the heart of Cascade Township serving the Metro Grand Rapids area. You’ll find plenty of towering pines, rolling hills, and wide-open green spaces just 3 miles from 28th Street! Shaggy Pines Dog Park has been designed as your dogs very own ‘heaven-on-earth’.
Several membership choices are available.
This unique park is even equipped with a coffee shop, do-it-yourself dog bath, and puppy store. Check out their website @ http://shaggypines.com
Forest Hills Fine Arts Center Monday, Jan 21 2008
Ada Living Forest Hills Fine Arts Center 10:34 pm
| Inside the Fine Arts Center | ||
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Ada Township Park Monday, Jan 21 2008
Ada Living Ada Park, Ada Real Estate, Community, Forest Hills 9:58 pm
Ada History and Background Monday, Jan 21 2008
Ada Living Ada, History, Michigan 9:56 pm
Ada is located in Ada Township, approximately 6 miles east of Grand Rapids in central Kent County.
This picturesque town with its country charm is located at the mouth of the Thornapple River flowing into the Grand.
It contains a downtown area and adjacent mall, accented by colonial and country style buildings and small shops.
As such, it is considered to be an ideal commuter suburb to the greater Grand Rapids area.
Historically, this town was the site of a trading post set up by Rix Robinson from Massachusetts in 1821 – whom many consider to be the first settler to the western Michigan area.
