Context Statement: Grand Rapids has a unique collection of mid-century modern park-schools completed between 1951 - 1962, a major construction project funded by a Grand Rapids Public Schools Millage approved in 1951. The schools were designed to be child-friendly in their size and design and were set in expansive park settings. Although they were to have a certain number of proscribed features, each school was to be unique in style to fit the neighborhood and typography. It was a collaboration between the Grand Rapids Public Schools and Grand Rapids Parks Department and the architects collaborating committee. Today some of these schools have been sold and repurposed.

PLAY: Enjoy the playgrounds developed in the 1950s Park-School Development Project. A sample of those still operating as schools and playgrounds and parks/ ball fields are Brookside Elementary School (2505 Madison SE) by Louis Kingscott, Mulick Park Elementary School by Roger Allen (1765 Rosewood SE), Kent Hills Elementary School by O’Bryon & Knapp (1445 Emerald NE), Riverside School by Warren Holmes (265 Eleanor).