Highland Park

Highland Park is a northeast Grand Rapids neighborhood defined by its namesake park, a 28-acre green space that serves as the neighborhood's centerpiece and recreational hub. The park, established in 1873 when Alpinus and Melville Bissell (founders of the Bissell carpet sweeper company) and Benjamin Harland deeded the original 3.5 acres to the city, has grown into a four-season recreation destination with trails, sports fields, a splash pad, a playground, a disc golf course, and a community garden. The park's rolling terrain and mature tree canopy create a distinctive landscape that sets the visual character for the surrounding streets.

The residential streets radiating outward from the park feature a mix of housing types and eras. Early 20th century homes with original architectural details sit alongside more modest mid-century housing, and the scale of homes is generally smaller and more affordable than those in adjacent Heritage Hill or Eastown. The neighborhood's topography is hilly, reflecting the elevated terrain that gave the park and neighborhood their name, creating varied streetscapes with interesting sightlines and elevation changes.

Highland Park benefits from proximity to commercial corridors on its edges without having significant commercial activity within its residential core. The Leonard Street NE corridor along the northern boundary provides grocery shopping (Family Fare), restaurants (Vitale's Pizza), and neighborhood services. The Creston business district (along Plainfield Avenue, just northeast of Highland Park) offers breweries, cafes, and specialty shops including Creston Brewery and Graydon's Crossing. Downtown Grand Rapids is a short drive or bus ride south across I-196.

Highland Park falls entirely within the Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) district. GRPS uses an attendance-area-based assignment system; the specific school serving a Highland Park address can be determined using the GRPS Attendance Area Finder tool online.

Aberdeen Academy (928 Aberdeen St NE) serves grades Pre-K through 8th grade with Place-Based Learning and Great Start Readiness Program models. The combined elementary/middle school format eliminates the need for a school transition during those years.

For high school, GRPS operates multiple options accessible to Highland Park residents, with assignment determined by the Attendance Area Finder. North Park Montessori Academy (Pre-K through 8th grade), located in the northeast quadrant of the city, offers a Montessori-method program with multi-age classrooms spanning three grades as an alternative.

GRPS participates in Schools of Choice, allowing residents to apply to attend theme schools and specialized programs beyond the assigned neighborhood school.

Highland Park's location on Grand Rapids' northeast side, with I-196 running along its southern boundary, provides direct highway access to downtown, approximately 1.5 to 2.0 miles away and a 5 to 10 minute drive.

Public transit includes Rapid Route 15 (East Leonard) serving Leonard Street along the neighborhood's northern edge, and Route 4 (Eastern) running along Eastern Avenue through the neighborhood. Additional routes connect to Rapid Central Station downtown. Fixed-route buses generally operate at 30 to 60 minute headways depending on route and time of day. Rapid Central Station (250 Grandville SW) is approximately 2 miles south.

Bike infrastructure includes low-traffic residential streets and access to the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail from the intersection of Leonard Street and Plainfield Avenue. Grand Rapids has over 80 miles of bike lanes citywide.

Major road access includes Leonard Street NE (northern boundary, major east-west arterial), College Avenue NE (western boundary), Fuller Avenue NE (eastern boundary, major north-south arterial), and I-196 (southern boundary with interchange access). Gerald R. Ford International Airport is approximately 13 miles southeast, an 18 to 22 minute drive. Walk Score rates the neighborhood 58 ("Somewhat Walkable").

Highland Park offers an accessible investment entry point with strong rental demand indicators. The median sale price of approximately $255,000 to $262,500 is well below the Grand Rapids citywide median, while the 5 to 10 minute commute to downtown via I-196 provides proximity to employment centers.

Approximately 55% of Highland Park residents are renters, indicating established demand for rental housing. Average rent is approximately $1,911. The ICCF Eastern School renovation (50 apartments) signals institutional confidence in the neighborhood's rental market and adds modern rental stock. For investment buyers, the combination of moderate entry prices, strong rental demand, and adjacency to the growing Creston business district (with Creston Brewery, Graydon's Crossing, and other new establishments) creates a compelling profile.

Homes sell in a median of just 6 days, indicating a tightening market. Grand Rapids' 2024 zoning code update allows for more housing density, which may facilitate infill development at the neighborhood's edges. The adjacent Creston business district on Plainfield Avenue continues to see commercial investment.

Important for short-term rental investors: Grand Rapids requires a Home Occupation Class C License for short-term rentals, with significant restrictions: the property must be the owner's principal residence, the owner must be present during rental periods, rentals are limited to one room with a maximum of two adult guests, and entire-home rentals are prohibited. Only approximately 200 STR licenses are issued citywide per year. The STR policy is under review as part of a zoning update expected in 2027. Investors should underwrite to long-term rental income only.