--- title: "John Ball Park" url: https://www.heregrandrapids.com/john-ball-park/ date: 2026-06-22T16:15:05-04:00 modified: 2026-06-22T16:15:05-04:00 author: "" site: "HERE Grand Rapids" attribution: "HERE Grand Rapids" --- # John Ball Park *Source: [HERE Grand Rapids](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/john-ball-park/) — June 22, 2026 by * Kent County · Community # John Ball Park The West Side neighborhood surrounding Grand Rapids' beloved John Ball Zoo — an urban-residential enclave with a unique zoo-adjacent identity, strong Latino cultural presence, and easy I-196 access. John Ball Zoo — Michigan's 10th oldest zoo and Grand Rapids' top cultural attraction Kent Trails access — 15-mile paved trail network to Millennium Park West Fulton Street restaurant corridor — Grand Rapids' Latin food scene ### Quick Facts ZIP49504 CategoryCommunity Platted1900 Main CorridorFulton St W / Bridge St NW corridor CountyKent County ### At A Glance Walkability60/100 Commute7 minutes to downtown Grand Rapids InterstateI-196 via Fulton St, 0.5 miles; US-131 via Bridge St, 0.7 miles VibeDiverse, community-rooted, zoo-adjacent — Grand Rapids' West Side at its most authentic Best ForFamilies who value diverse community, outdoor access via Kent Trails, and authentic Latin food culture at accessible price points ### Got A Tip? News, real estate moves, or business happenings in John Ball Park? Send a tip — anonymous OK. [Submit a Tip](/submit-a-tip/) ### Own This Neighborhood Your Name Here Your Brokerage · Grand Rapids, MI 📞(864) 555-0100 ✉you@yoursite.com 🌐yoursite.com $149/mo · Sponsor John Ball Park [Become The Sponsor →](/sponsor-a-neighborhood/) ## Location John Ball Park is on Grand Rapids' West Side, roughly bounded by the Grand River to the north, Burton Street to the south, Valley Avenue to the west, and US-131 to the east. The zoo and its eponymous park anchor the eastern edge of the neighborhood. [**Open John Ball Park in Google Maps →**42.9612° N, 85.7035° W · ZIP 49504](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=42.9612,-85.7035) ## Character John Ball Park is a diverse, working-class neighborhood with deep community roots. The significant Latino population along the West Fulton corridor has created one of Grand Rapids' most authentic food scenes, with Mexican restaurants, panaderías, and Latin grocers. The zoo provides a unique neighborhood amenity, and the Kent Trails network connects residents to Millennium Park and beyond. ## History The John Ball Park area developed in the early 20th century as a West Side residential neighborhood, populated by factory workers and Dutch immigrant families. The zoo opened on land donated by John Ball, one of Grand Rapids' founding fathers, in 1891. The neighborhood's demographic composition shifted significantly in the late 20th century as Latino immigration transformed the West Fulton corridor. Your Featured Sponsor Your Name Here Your Brokerage · Realtor® **📞** (864) 555-0100 **✉** you@yourbrokerage.com **🌐** yourbrokerage.com [Visit My Site →](/advertise/) ### Own John Ball Park — Just $149/month Exclusive sponsorship · one realtor or local business per neighborhood - **Top-of-page featured card** with your photo, name, brokerage, phone, email, and website - **Route every John Ball Park search visitor** directly to your site — not Zillow, not Realtor.com - **Hyperlocal SEO juice** — backlink from a high-authority HEREGrandRapids neighborhood page - **Click-to-call and click-to-email** built in for mobile leads - **Lock out competitors** — only one sponsor at a time, month-to-month - **Cancel anytime** — no contract, no setup fee [Claim John Ball Park →](/sponsor-a-neighborhood/) [See vs Zillow & Redfin](/sponsor-a-neighborhood/#compare) ## Schools Elementary GRPS elementary (varies) Grand Rapids Public Schools [SC Report Card →](https://www.michigan.gov/mde) [School site →](https://grps.org) Middle GRPS middle school (varies) Grand Rapids Public Schools [SC Report Card →](https://www.michigan.gov/mde) [School site →](https://grps.org) High Union High School (Red Hawks) Grand Rapids Public Schools [SC Report Card →](https://www.michigan.gov/mde) [School site →](https://grps.org/schools/high-school/union-hs/) Ratings from the South Carolina School Report Card (state Department of Education) — not third-party aggregators. ## Nearby Retail & Dining - **West Fulton Street corridor** — Latin restaurants, panaderías, taquerías, and diverse food culture *(0.3 mi)* - **Bridge Street NW corridor** — West Side neighborhood commercial strip *(0.5 mi north)* ## Healthcare & Essentials - **Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital** Hospital *(2.5 mi east)* - **Trinity Health Grand Rapids (Saint Mary's)** Hospital *(2.0 mi southeast)* **Run a business near John Ball Park?** Join the HEREGrandRapids Business Directory and we'll link your name from neighborhood pages like this one — driving local search traffic straight to your site. [Join Our Business Directory →](/advertise/) More Grand Rapids Neighborhoods - [Heritage Hill](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/heritage-hill/) - [Eastown](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/eastown/) - [East Hills](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/east-hills/) - [Creston](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/creston/) - [Alger Heights](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/alger-heights/) - [Belknap Lookout](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/belknap-lookout/) - [Garfield Park](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/garfield-park/) - [Fulton Heights](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/fulton-heights/) - [Madison Area](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/madison-area/) - [All Neighborhoods →](/neighborhoods-heregrandrapids-mi/) School data from the [SC Department of Education Report Card](https://screportcards.com). Page maintained by HEREGrandRapids.