The last couple of years in Grand Rapids have seen a number of major projects that have been years in the making come to completion or finally begin underway. All summer, Grand Rapids has been rocking at the new Acrisure Amphitheater; the skeleton of the new Amway Stadium is complete; the Grand Rapids Public Museum's multi-million-dollar riverfront expansion is open to the community, and even the Grand River's rapids are returning.

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As grand in scale as these additions have been, many of these projects were not voted on by the public. I'm not saying that as a bash of any kind; I saw MGK at the Amphitheater and was super impressed. But I wanted to get an idea of what the people who live here 

Mod Sun performing at the Acrisure Amphitheater

Asking Grand Rapids What They Want

So, I turned to the r/grandrapids subreddit to poll the community, and the post garnered over 250 replies, and most of them were different. These were things most Grand Rapidians were passionate about, ranging from changes to public transportation to new places to hang out, day and night.

Posts from the grandrapids
community on Reddit

Now, these are just speculations and likely have valid reasons as to why some of these things aren't here, but it's still fun to imagine. Let's look at some of the top suggestions.

Annette Petriccione, Townsquare Media NJ

Changes To Public Transportation

Train and Trams

Grand Rapids does have a pretty extensive bus system in the form of The Rapid. But by a landslide, the suggestion that resonated most with people was adding a train system that connects you to the various cities around West Michigan. There is an Amtrak route that connects to Holland on its way to Chicago, but it's not a commuter route. Having a lower-priced option that offers multiple trips a day could be exciting.

READ MORE: Why Grand Rapids Got Rid of Its Trolleys — And Could They Return?

People also expressed interest in one of historic Grand Rapids' most recognizable modes of transportation: the tram. Trams used to make their way around the city before being replaced by bus routes, with today's DASH bus systems meant to emulate the hop-on-hop-off ability of the tram.

Engineering Department, “Streetcar on Division Ave S,” City of Grand Rapids Archives and Records Center, accessed July 21, 2026, https://grandrapidsmicityarchives.omeka.net/items/show/1345.

Later Bus Hours

Even if nothing big is added to the city, people would still be happy with the current options going later into the night. On most nights, a majority of The Rapid buses run until 10 or 11 pm depending on the day, which can be inconvenient for people who are out until 2 am, hitting the bars.

The Rapid recently changed its hours to run later on nights with Acrisure Amphitheater concerts. With this in mind, as the city continues to grow, it's possible we could see these hours go later into the night.

The Rapid via Facebook

"Fun Places To Dance"

These days, Grand Rapids proudly bears the moniker "Beer City", but that (and COVID) has in many ways led people to feel like their options can be a bit limited when it comes to clubs, especially for older club-goers. There are only two "nightclubs" in Grand Rapids, Rumors Nightclub and Eve Nightclub, as well as some other bars with dance floors.

READ MORE: Tracing Michigan’s Ancestry: Three Unique Details Revealed

More so, people outside college age feel like there isn't a great place for them to go. If there's an aspiring restaurateur out there looking to capitalize, making a "club" targeted at 30+ may be a gold mine.

Jupiterimages

Food Open Late

There are numerous places to get some late-night food, from Z's to a variety of pizza places. But what Grand Rapidians (and much of the state) are missing is a place ot get groceries at night. The death of the 24-hour grocery store as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is something that people will mourn for many more years to come.

Meijer Gaines Marketplace

Check out the entire post here and add your own input here.