Is it difficult to go home? Ask the salmon that are attempting to reach their

spawning grounds in the upper reaches of the Grand River.  They have a

Herculean task to get up the fish ladder at the Grand River downtown

Grand Rapids.  Joseph E Kinnebrew IV, designed the Fish Ladder Sculpture

that allows the fish to climb the dam at Fourth Street and Front NW. 

The Fish Ladder was installed in 1974 and is a favorite spot to watch the

fish return up river in the fall.  We have seen the fish so thick that the

ducks can walk on their backs to catch treats thrown in for them.

Grand views of our local city and riverfront are visible from here.  You can

see the many cranes and buildings going up on Michigan Avenue, also

known as The Medical Mile. The VanAndel Institute, Butterworth Hospital,

Lemmon-Holton Cancer Center,  Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and the

Michigan State University Medical School. 

A small public city park adjoins the fish ladder and is an intimate spot to

bring a picnic lunch and watch the activity on the river.

Fishermen were pulling huge salmon from the river when we visited the

other day.  The salmon are on their way from upstream to Lake Michigan.

Hope you enjoy our photo tour:

Grand Rapids Real Estate ~ Five Star Real Estate

Copyright 2009 all rights reserved

Photos by Terry Westbrook