Uptown GR Native Gardens

The new native gardens along Lake Drive and Fulton Street in Eastown offer an inspiring example of how sustainable, beautiful, and ecologically thoughtful landscaping can thrive in our urban public spaces. Uptown Grand Rapids Inc. partnered with Native Edge to lead the project through installation and establishment, ensuring the gardens reach their full potential. The broader goal is to inspire both businesses and residents to embrace landscaping practices that promote our health, well-being, and the natural environment.

About the Planting

The new native gardens in Uptown Grand Rapids will bring a wide range of benefits to both people and the environment. Once established, these gardens will thrive without the need for supplemental irrigation, fertilizers, or mulch—and they’ll require significantly less maintenance than traditional landscapes.

Designed to reflect the beauty of natural ecosystems, they will provide essential habitat and food sources for local pollinators and wildlife. By incorporating native plants that serve as host species for native fauna, these gardens play a vital role in sustaining healthy ecosystems—and, ultimately, our own well-being by supporting the broader food web.