Daily editionWednesday, October 28th, 2026
Good morning, Grand Rapids.
The Good Day Grand Rapids Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 28th of October.
Community
Canal Park (River North) has reopened along the Grand River with a playground, 14 foot sidewalks, room for a kayak launch, and a heated pavilion, and residents are already visiting.
The city says the official grand opening will be held this spring.
FOX 17Read more
Five-year-old Dahlia Swanson of Alto was named the first Little Miss Wheelchair America and uses her platform "Play!
Learn! Grow!" to encourage children with disabilities to keep trying and adapt; her work has taken her to New York Fashion Week (she was Little Miss Wheelchair Michigan first).
MLiveRead more
Tommy’s Express will give free WORKS car washes to veterans and active-duty military on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, at participating Tommy’s Express locations; recipients should go to the cashier lane, and some locations will also offer free detail kits.
MLiveRead more
Culture
Frederik Meijer Gardens will host TROLLS: A Field Study featuring 12 giant trolls made from reclaimed wood opening May 14, 2027 and running through Oct. 31, 2027 on the sculpture park's grounds.
MLiveRead more
Tulip Time (April 30 to May 9, 2027) will return to Holland; tickets are on sale now and the new Holland Civic Center hub will host the Dutch Market, Quilt Show, carnival rides, and food vendors.
The schedule includes a fireworks and drone show over Lake Macatawa, national tribute acts, and the Holland Symphony Orchestra.
MLiveRead more
Education
The Coffee Nest, a student-run shop inside Forest Hills Eastern High School, gives six students with autism real-world job training by serving drinks, handling money, and speaking with customers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
FOX 17Read more
GRPS will hold public interviews today for two superintendent finalists (Kelly Greene and Allison Tingwall), with board interviews starting at 5:00 p.m. at GRPS University, 1400 Fuller Ave. NE; sessions are open to the public and will be livestreamed.
MLiveRead more
Grand Valley State University began construction on the $166 million Blue Dot Lab after a ceremonial Oct. 27 event, with renovation of the Eberhard Center at 301 West Fulton St. and a new addition due to finish summer 2029; the downtown tech hub will house the College of Computing but some faculty question costs and access.
MLiveRead more
Government
County commissioners voted 10-1 on Oct. 27 to become an intervenor in the Michigan Public Service Commission review of a proposed 1,900-acre, 200 MW RWE solar farm in Zeeland and Jamestown townships, and they will decide later whether to formally support or oppose the project.
MLiveRead more
The City Commission approved Tuesday an exemption letting Acrisure Amphitheater operate until 11 p.m. under its 2023 special land use rules instead of the general noise ordinance.
City officials said they will ask the CAA to report back before next concert season on noise mitigation.
MLiveRead more
Sports
East Kentwood beat Byron Center 2-1 in overtime at Forest Hills Northern’s Husky Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 27 after Suhail Kishawi scored on a first-half penalty, Kellen Umlor tied it early in the second half, and Ibrahima Diallo netted the winner 20 seconds into the second overtime. East Kentwood (14-8-1) will play the Grand Haven–Traverse City West winner at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 at Husky Stadium.
MLiveRead more