Gerald R. Ford Playground Campaign

A Community Build for Kids—and Our City

In the heart of Grand Rapids, a playground named for the 38th President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford, is poised for a transformational renewal—made possible by our community.

For more than a century, Madison Avenue, just south of Martin Luther King Jr. Street has been home to learning and growing. Originally, the site of Madison Elementary, a new school building opened in 2007. The new school was named Gerald R. Ford Academic Center in honor of the most well-known person to attend Madison Elementary. The President's childhood home is within walking distance of the school, a walk he started making in 1918 while attending kindergarten at Madison Elementary.

The playground at Gerald R. Ford Academic Center serves children in grades K–8 during the school day and functions as a public neighborhood park during evenings, weekends, and summers. When the school transitioned from Madison Middle School to a PK–8 model, the playground was never expanded to meet the needs of older students or to be fully accessible for all children.

While a recent GRPS millage has provided critical support for district-wide needs, it does not cover every project required to make GRPS the exceptional district our students and families deserve. The GRPS Foundation exists to help fill those gaps, ensuring students have access to the spaces, experiences, and opportunities that support learning, belonging, and thriving.

This is where our community comes in.

The GRPS Foundation is bringing together partners, alumni, neighbors, and friends to build a new, 100% accessible playground at 851 Madison SE—one that serves both students and the surrounding neighborhood.

We have engaged Sinclair Recreation to lead this community build, with construction planned for the end of this summer and a grand opening to kick off the 2026–2027 school year.

Gerald R Ford Playground Campaign

By Grand Rapids Public Schools Foundation

Gerald R Ford Playground Campaign

A Community Build for Kids—and Our City