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Do not fill this in! ==Geography== {{More citations needed section|date=October 2009}} === Neighborhoods === According to city government data, Grand Rapids has 37 distinct neighborhoods:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://data.grandrapidsmi.gov/dataset/Neighborhood-Classifications/atiu-vc7e/data | title=Neighborhood Classifications | Open Performance | access-date=November 19, 2022 | archive-date=November 19, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119060122/https://data.grandrapidsmi.gov/dataset/Neighborhood-Classifications/atiu-vc7e/data | url-status=live }}</ref> {{columns-list|colwidth=20em| * Alger Heights * Baxter * [[Belknap Lookout]] * Black Hills * Creston * Downtown * East Hills * Eastern-Burton * Eastgate * [[Eastown, Grand Rapids|Eastown]] * Fulton Heights * Garfield Park * Grandville * [[Heartside]] * [[Heritage Hill Historic District (Grand Rapids, Michigan)|Heritage Hill]] * Highland Park * John Ball Park * Ken-O-Sha Park * Lake Eastbrook * Leffingwell-Twin Lakes * Michigan Oaks * Midtown * Millbank * North End * North Park * Northeast * Ottawa Hills * Richmond-Oakleigh * Ridgemoor Park * Roosevelt Park * Shangrai-La * Shawmut Hills * Shawnee Park * Southeast Community * Southeast End * Southwest * West Grand }} ===Topography=== [[File:Grand Rapids by Sentinel-2.jpg|thumb|The [[Grand Rapids metropolitan area]] taken by the [[Sentinel-2]] satellite in June 2022.]] Grand Rapids developed on the banks of the [[Grand River (Michigan)|Grand River]], where there was once a set of rapids, at an altitude of {{convert|610|ft|m|0}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]]. Ships could navigate on the river up to this fall line, stopping because of the rapids. The river valley is flat and narrow, surrounded by steep hills and bluffs. The terrain becomes more rolling hills away from the river. The countryside surrounding the metropolitan area consists of mixed forest and farmland, with large areas of orchards to the northwest. It is approximately {{convert|25|mi|abbr=on}} east of [[Lake Michigan]]. The state capital of [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]] lies about {{convert|70|mi|abbr=on}} to the east-by-southeast, and [[Kalamazoo, Michigan|Kalamazoo]] is about {{convert|50|mi|abbr=on}} to the south. Grand Rapids is divided into four [[Address (geography)#Quadrants|quadrants]], which form a part of mailing addresses in Kent County. The quadrants are NE (northeast), NW (northwest), SE (southeast), and SW (southwest). Fulton Street serves as the north–south dividing line, while Division Avenue serves as the east–west dividing line separating these quadrants. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|45.27|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|44.40|sqmi|sqkm|2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.87|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title = US Gazetteer files 2010 |url = https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date = February 20, 2011 |publisher = United States Census Bureau |access-date = November 25, 2012 }}</ref> ===Climate=== {{climate chart | Grand Rapids | 18.1 | 30.7 | 2.09 | 19.9 | 33.7 | 1.79 | 26.9 | 44.4 | 2.37 | 37.7 | 58.2 | 3.35 | 47.8 | 69.5 | 3.98 | 57.7 | 79.0 | 3.77 | 62.2 | 82.8 | 3.78 | 61.0 | 80.6 | 3.59 | 52.7 | 73.0 | 4.28 | 41.8 | 60.3 | 3.26 | 33.0 | 47.3 | 3.51 | 23.5 | 34.8 | 2.50 | float = right | clear = none | units = imperial | source = NOAA<ref>[https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=grr National Weather Office Forecast Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508110620/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=grr |date=May 8, 2021 }} Grand Rapids, MI. (select NOWData, then daily/monthly normals) Retrieved April 13, 2020.</ref> }} Grand Rapids has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfa''),<ref>{{cite journal |first1 = Markus |last1 = Kottek |first2 = Jürgen |last2 = Grieser |first3 = Christoph |last3 = Beck |first4 = Bruno |last4 = Rudolf |first5 = Franz |last5 = Rubel |name-list-style = amp |url = http://www.schweizerbart.de/resources/downloads/paper_free/55034.pdf |title = World Map of the Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated |journal = Meteorologische Zeitschrift |volume = 15 |issue = 3 |pages = 259–263 |date = June 2006 |doi = 10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130 |bibcode = 2006MetZe..15..259K |access-date = February 13, 2014 |archive-date = April 12, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190412021016/http://www.schweizerbart.de/resources/downloads/paper_free/55034.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref> with very warm and humid summers, cold and snowy winters, and short and mild springs and autumns. Even though it is in the middle of the continent, the city experiences some maritime effects due to its location east of Lake Michigan, including a high number of cloudy days during the late fall and winter, delayed heating in the spring, delayed cooling in fall, somewhat moderated temperatures during winter and [[lake effect snow]]. The city averages {{convert|75.6|in|cm|abbr=on}} of snow a year, making it one of the snowiest major cities in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title = America's 20 Snowiest Major Cities |url = https://weather.com/storms/winter/news/20-snowiest-large-cities-america-20140130#/14 |publisher = The Weather Channel |access-date = August 21, 2017 |first = Jon |last = Erdman |archive-date = February 26, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170226223829/https://weather.com/storms/winter/news/20-snowiest-large-cities-america-20140130#/14 |url-status = dead }}</ref> The area often receives quick and sudden [[lake effect snow]]storms, producing significant amounts of snowfall. The months of March, April, October and November are transitional months and the weather can vary. March has experienced a record high of {{convert|87|°F}} and record low of {{convert|-13|°F}}. The average last frost date in spring is May 1, and the average first frost in fall is October 11, giving the area a growing season of 162 days.<ref>{{cite web |title = National Weather Service Climate |url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=grr |access-date = August 21, 2017 |publisher = National Weather Service Corporate Image Web Team |archive-date = May 8, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210508110620/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=grr |url-status = live }}</ref> The city is in plant hardiness zone 6a, while outlying areas are 5b. Some far western suburbs closer to the insulating effect of Lake Michigan are in zone 6b.<ref>{{cite web |title = USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |url = http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ |publisher = [[United States Department of Agriculture]] |access-date = August 21, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ |archive-date = February 27, 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref> Summers are warm or hot, and [[heat wave]]s and [[severe weather]] outbreaks are common during a typical summer. The average temperature of the area is {{convert|49|°F}}. The highest temperature in the area was recorded on July 13, 1936, at {{convert|108|°F}}, and the lowest was recorded on February 13–14, 1899, at {{convert|-24|°F}}.<ref>{{cite web |title = THE GRAND RAPIDS MI (ASOS) CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR OF 2019 |url = https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=grr&product=cla&issuedby=grr |website = [[National Weather Service]] |access-date = January 24, 2020 |language = EN-US |archive-date = January 24, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200124103340/https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=grr&product=cla&issuedby=grr |url-status = live }}</ref> During an average year, sunshine occurs in 46% of the daylight hours. On 138 nights, the temperature dips to below {{convert|32|°F|0|abbr=on}}. On average, 9.2 days a year have temperatures that meet or exceed the {{convert|90|°F|0}} mark, and 5.6 days a year have lows that are {{convert|0|°F|0}} or colder. The coldest maximum temperature on record was {{convert|-6|F|C}} in 1899, whereas the most recent subzero Fahrenheit daily maximum was {{convert|-2|F|C}} in 1994.<ref name=GrandRapidsNOAA/> During the reference period of 1991 to 2020, the coldest daily maximum on average was {{convert|11|F|C}}.<ref name=GrandRapidsNOAA/> Summer nights influenced by the lake can be hot and muggy on occasion. The warmest night on record was {{convert|82|F|C}} in 1902 and lows above {{convert|72|F|C}} have been measured in every month between April and October.<ref name=GrandRapidsNOAA/> On average, the warmest low of the year stood at {{convert|74|F|C}} for the 1991–2020 normals.<ref name=GrandRapidsNOAA/> The most recent record set was the February record high of {{convert|73|F|C}}, which was recorded on February 27, 2024. In April 1956, the western and northern portions of the city and its suburbs were hit by a [[April 1956 tornado outbreak|violent tornado]] which locally produced [[Fujita scale|F5 damage]] and killed 18 people.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.weather.gov/grr/1956TornadoOutbreakEyewitnessVT |title = 1956 Tornado Outbreak |author = [[National Weather Service]] |access-date = August 21, 2017 |archive-date = August 21, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170821050644/http://www.weather.gov/grr/1956TornadoOutbreakEyewitnessVT |url-status = live }}</ref> With the Grand River flowing through the center of Grand Rapids, the city has been prone to floods. From March 25 to 29, 1904, more than one-half of the entire populated portion of the city lying on the west side of the river was completely underwater, over twenty-five hundred houses, affecting fourteen thousand persons, being completely surrounded. On March 28, the river registered at {{convert|19.6|ft|m}}, more than {{convert|2|ft|m|spell=in}} above its highest previous mark.<ref>{{cite web |title = New Perspectives on the 1904 Flood in Grand Rapids, Michigan |publisher = Grand Valley State University |date = March 2004 |url = https://www.gvsu.edu/geology/1904-flood-in-grand-rapids-44.htm |access-date = August 20, 2017 |archive-date = September 19, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150919232037/https://www.gvsu.edu/geology/1904-flood-in-grand-rapids-44.htm |url-status = live }}</ref> More than one-hundred years later, the [[2013 Grand Rapids flood]] occurred from April 12 to 25, 2013, with the river cresting at {{convert|21.85|ft|m|}} on the 21st, causing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes and over $10 million in damage.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Tunison |first1 = John |title = Flood Damage Report: $10.6 Million to Kent County Properties |url = http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/05/flood_damage_report_106_millio.html |access-date = February 28, 2015 |work = MLive |date = May 16, 2013 |archive-date = April 2, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092347/http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/05/flood_damage_report_106_millio.html |url-status = live }}</ref> <section begin="weather box" />{{Weather box|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan ([[Gerald R. Ford International Airport|Gerald Ford Int'l]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present{{efn|Official records for Grand Rapids kept June 1892 to December 1940 at downtown, at the [[Gerald R. Ford International Airport#History|first Grand Rapids Airport]] some {{convert|4|mi|abbr=on}} south of downtown from January 1941 to November 23, 1963, and at Gerald Ford Int'l since its opening on November 24, 1963. For more information, see Threadex.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://threadex.rcc-acis.org/ |title=Threadex |access-date=September 19, 2016 |archive-date=March 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305145240/http://threadex.rcc-acis.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}} |single line= Y |collapsed= Y |Jan record high F = 66 |Feb record high F = 73 |Mar record high F = 87 |Apr record high F = 90 |May record high F = 95 |Jun record high F = 102 |Jul record high F = 108 |Aug record high F = 102 |Sep record high F = 98 |Oct record high F = 89 |Nov record high F = 81 |Dec record high F = 69 |year record high F = |Jan avg record high F = 51.3 |Feb avg record high F = 51.9 |Mar avg record high F = 67.9 |Apr avg record high F = 79.2 |May avg record high F = 86.0 |Jun avg record high F = 91.8 |Jul avg record high F = 92.5 |Aug avg record high F = 91.1 |Sep avg record high F = 87.8 |Oct avg record high F = 78.8 |Nov avg record high F = 65.3 |Dec avg record high F = 54.4 |year avg record high F = 94.3 |Jan high F = 31.0 |Feb high F = 33.7 |Mar high F = 44.5 |Apr high F = 57.8 |May high F = 69.8 |Jun high F = 79.4 |Jul high F = 83.1 |Aug high F = 80.9 |Sep high F = 73.9 |Oct high F = 60.7 |Nov high F = 47.2 |Dec high F = 36.1 |year high F = 58.2 |Jan mean F = 24.8 |Feb mean F = 26.6 |Mar mean F = 35.7 |Apr mean F = 47.6 |May mean F = 59.2 |Jun mean F = 68.9 |Jul mean F = 72.8 |Aug mean F = 71.1 |Sep mean F = 63.5 |Oct mean F = 51.5 |Nov mean F = 40.0 |Dec mean F = 30.4 |year mean F = 49.3 |Jan low F = 18.6 |Feb low F = 19.5 |Mar low F = 26.9 |Apr low F = 37.3 |May low F = 48.6 |Jun low F = 58.3 |Jul low F = 62.5 |Aug low F = 61.2 |Sep low F = 53.1 |Oct low F = 42.2 |Nov low F = 32.8 |Dec low F = 24.7 |year low F = 40.5 |Jan avg record low F = -2.8 |Feb avg record low F = 0.0 |Mar avg record low F = 7.5 |Apr avg record low F = 22.9 |May avg record low F = 33.4 |Jun avg record low F = 44.0 |Jul avg record low F = 51.0 |Aug avg record low F = 49.3 |Sep avg record low F = 38.6 |Oct avg record low F = 28.6 |Nov avg record low F = 18.9 |Dec avg record low F = 6.3 |year avg record low F = -6.3 |Jan record low F = −22 |Feb record low F = −24 |Mar record low F = −13 |Apr record low F = 3 |May record low F = 21 |Jun record low F = 32 |Jul record low F = 41 |Aug record low F = 39 |Sep record low F = 27 |Oct record low F = 18 |Nov record low F = −10 |Dec record low F = −18 |year record low F = −24 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation inch = 2.52 |Feb precipitation inch = 2.12 |Mar precipitation inch = 2.39 |Apr precipitation inch = 3.99 |May precipitation inch = 4.00 |Jun precipitation inch = 3.94 |Jul precipitation inch = 3.86 |Aug precipitation inch = 3.55 |Sep precipitation inch = 3.43 |Oct precipitation inch = 4.02 |Nov precipitation inch = 3.10 |Dec precipitation inch = 2.48 |year precipitation inch = 39.40 |Jan snow inch = 22.6 |Feb snow inch = 17.2 |Mar snow inch = 7.6 |Apr snow inch = 2.0 |May snow inch = 0.0 |Jun snow inch = 0.0 |Jul snow inch = 0.0 |Aug snow inch = 0.0 |Sep snow inch = 0.0 |Oct snow inch = 0.3 |Nov snow inch = 7.1 |Dec snow inch = 20.8 |year snow inch = 77.6 |Jan snow depth inch = 9.0 |Feb snow depth inch = 8.8 |Mar snow depth inch = 5.7 |Apr snow depth inch = 1.0 |May snow depth inch = 0.0 |Jun snow depth inch = 0.0 |Jul snow depth inch = 0.0 |Aug snow depth inch = 0.0 |Sep snow depth inch = 0.0 |Oct snow depth inch = 0.1 |Nov snow depth inch = 2.5 |Dec snow depth inch = 6.3 |year snow depth inch = 12.1 |unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = 16.8 |Feb precipitation days = 13.1 |Mar precipitation days = 11.8 |Apr precipitation days = 12.8 |May precipitation days = 12.5 |Jun precipitation days = 10.7 |Jul precipitation days = 10.0 |Aug precipitation days = 9.9 |Sep precipitation days = 10.2 |Oct precipitation days = 12.5 |Nov precipitation days = 12.9 |Dec precipitation days = 15.5 |year precipitation days = 148.7 |unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan snow days = 14.9 |Feb snow days = 11.2 |Mar snow days = 5.9 |Apr snow days = 2.1 |May snow days = 0.0 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Sep snow days = 0.0 |Oct snow days = 0.4 |Nov snow days = 4.5 |Dec snow days = 11.9 |year snow days = 50.9 |Jan humidity = 77.2 |Feb humidity = 74.2 |Mar humidity = 71.1 |Apr humidity = 66.8 |May humidity = 65.4 |Jun humidity = 68.1 |Jul humidity = 69.6 |Aug humidity = 73.3 |Sep humidity = 76.1 |Oct humidity = 74.6 |Nov humidity = 76.9 |Dec humidity = 79.5 |year humidity = 72.7 | Jan dew point C = -8.7 | Feb dew point C = -8.4 | Mar dew point C = -4.0 | Apr dew point C = 1.4 | May dew point C = 7.2 | Jun dew point C = 12.8 | Jul dew point C = 15.7 | Aug dew point C = 15.2 | Sep dew point C = 11.7 | Oct dew point C = 5.1 | Nov dew point C = -0.2 | Dec dew point C = -5.7 | year dew point = |Jan sun = 88.3 |Feb sun = 116.0 |Mar sun = 168.2 |Apr sun = 210.2 |May sun = 255.9 |Jun sun = 286.8 |Jul sun = 296.5 |Aug sun = 264.2 |Sep sun = 206.0 |Oct sun = 152.4 |Nov sun = 82.0 |Dec sun = 62.1 |Jan percentsun = 30 |Feb percentsun = 39 |Mar percentsun = 45 |Apr percentsun = 52 |May percentsun = 56 |Jun percentsun = 62 |Jul percentsun = 64 |Aug percentsun = 61 |Sep percentsun = 55 |Oct percentsun = 45 |Nov percentsun = 28 |Dec percentsun = 22 |year percentsun = 49 |source 1 = [[NOAA]] (relative humidity, dew point, and sun 1961–1990)<ref name=GrandRapidsNOAA>{{cite web |url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=grr |title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = May 8, 2021 |archive-date = May 8, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210508110620/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=grr |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210508142949/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00094860&format=pdf |archive-date = May 8, 2021 |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00094860&format=pdf |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = Station: Grand Rapids, MI |access-date = May 8, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP4/72635.TXT |title = WMO Climate Normals for Grand Rapids/Kent Co. Int'l Ar., MI 1961–1990 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = March 10, 2014 |archive-date = September 17, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230917135840/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP4/72635.TXT |url-status = live }}</ref> |date=February 2014}}<section end="weather box"/> ===Cityscape=== {{See also|List of tallest buildings in Grand Rapids|List of nature centers in Michigan}} The city skyline shows the [[Amway Grand Plaza Hotel]], formerly the Pantlind, which reopened in 1981 after extensive renovations by Marvin DeWinter & Associates. This work included the addition of a 29–story glass tower offering panoramic views of the city, river and surrounding area. The Pantlind Hotel's original architects, Warren & Wetmore, were inspired by the work of the Scottish neoclassical architect [[Robert Adam]]. In its prime, the hotel was rated as one of the top ten hotels in the US. The hotel features several restaurants well known in Grand Rapids. The hotel is owned by Amway Hotel Collection, a subsidiary of Amway's holding company [[Alticor]].<ref>{{cite web |first = Richard L. |last = Johnson |url = http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2004_4th/Oct04_Alticor.html |title = Alticor, Which Owns and Operates the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Planning a 300–400 Room Marriott in Downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan / October 2004 |website = Hotel-online.com |date = October 5, 2004 |access-date = August 21, 2017 |archive-date = April 16, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160416083949/http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2004_4th/Oct04_Alticor.html |url-status = live }}</ref> {{wide image|Grand Rapids, MI skyline 2021.jpg|900px|align-cap=center|The skyline of Grand Rapids as seen in August 2021}} Other prominent large buildings include the [[JW Marriott Grand Rapids]], the first JW Marriott Hotel in the Midwest. It is themed from cityscapes of Grand Rapids' sister cities: Omihachiman, Japan; Bielsko-Biała, Poland; Perugia, Italy; Ga District, Ghana; and Zapopan, Mexico. When the hotel opened, Amway Hotel corporation hired photographer Dan Watts to travel to each of the sister cities and photograph them for the property. Each floor of the hotel features photography from one of the cities, which is unique to that floor. Cityscapes of these five cities are alternated in order, up the 23 floors. The city's tallest building is the [[River House Condominiums]], a 34-story (123.8 m) condominium tower completed in 2008 that stands as the tallest all-residential building in the state of Michigan.<ref name="emporiscorp">{{cite web |url = https://www.serviceprofessor.com/2017/11/tallest-buildings-in-grand-rapids/ |title = Grand Rapids High-rise Buildings |publisher = Service Professor Grand Rapids |access-date = November 20, 2017 |archive-date = September 17, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230917135841/https://www.serviceprofessor.com/ |url-status = live }}</ref> [[File:Barn_at_Blandford_Nature_Center_in_Springtime.jpg|right|thumb|A barn belonging to the Blandford School at the Blandford Nature Center in early springtime]] Grand Rapids is also home to two large urban nature centers. The Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens, operated by [[Calvin University]] on the city's southeast side, is {{convert|104|acre|ha}}. It is home to over {{convert|44|acre|ha}} of public-access nature trails, a {{convert|60|acre|ha|adj=on}}, restricted-access wildlife preserve, as well as the Bunker Interpretive Center, which hosts university classes and educational programs for the wider community.<ref>{{cite web |title = About Us: Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens |url = https://calvin.edu/ecosystem-preserve/about/ |publisher = Calvin University |access-date = September 9, 2019 |archive-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191228225430/https://calvin.edu/ecosystem-preserve/about/ |url-status = live }}</ref> The Blandford Nature Center, located on the city's northwest side, opened in 1968 and contains extensive nature trails, an animal hospital, and a "heritage village" made up of several well-preserved 19th-century buildings, including a log cabin, schoolhouse, and barn.<ref>{{cite web |title = About Blandford |url = https://blandfordnaturecenter.org/about/ |publisher = Blandford Nature Center |access-date = September 9, 2019 |archive-date = December 31, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191231063820/https://blandfordnaturecenter.org/about/ |url-status = live }}</ref> The nature center is also home to Blandford School, a highly selective environmental education program for sixth graders from the metropolitan region, which is run by [[Grand Rapids Public Schools]] and serves as a feeder school for [[City High-Middle School]]. At {{convert|264|acre|ha}}, Blandford is one of the largest urban nature centers in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Smith |first1 = Sydney |title = Blandford Nature Center Begins Demolition as Part of $6.6M Highlands Restoration Project |url = https://mibiz.com/sections/real-estate-development/blandford-nature-center-begins-demolition-as-part-of-6-6m-highlands-restoration-project?highlight=WyJzeWRuZXkiLCJzbWl0aCIsInNtaXRoJ3MiLCJzeWRuZXkgc21pdGgiXQ== |access-date = September 9, 2019 |work = MiBiz |date = September 8, 2019 |archive-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191228072935/https://mibiz.com/sections/real-estate-development/blandford-nature-center-begins-demolition-as-part-of-6-6m-highlands-restoration-project?highlight=WyJzeWRuZXkiLCJzbWl0aCIsInNtaXRoJ3MiLCJzeWRuZXkgc21pdGgiXQ== |url-status = live }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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