WelcomeWest is a neighborhood movement connecting the people and assets of the Westside of Grand Rapids.
WelcomeWest is the driving force behind WinterWest, LiveWest, and the Back to School parade – events designed to highlight different aspects of the Westside.
WinterWest is a celebration of Winter in West Michigan! The inaugural WinterWest was held January 28 – February 13, 2011 at Richmond Park on Grand Rapids’ Westside. It consisted of a series of events aimed at getting people out to enjoy the weather! WinterWest 2013 will be Friday, January 25 to Sunday, February 10.
The Back to School Kid Parade is meant to highlight the great schools and neighborhoods we have on the Westside. Our goal is to let the community know that this is a great place to raise a family! The Second Annual Back to School Kid Parade is tentatively scheduled for September 10, 2011. The parade will begin and end at Union High School and will include food, games and music. More information to come!
LiveWest is a month-long tangible expression of our mission – it is a challenge to discover some of the hidden gems of the Westside by, for the month of May, spending every dollar possible within the Westside boundaries. The purpose of LiveWest is to create space for individuals and business owners to interact around the idea of intentionally building a strong and vibrant community; to encourage involvement in Westside neighborhood organizations and business districts; and, to raise awareness of locally spent dollars, and show the importance and power of purchasing from local establishments.
Is this movement just for the month of may or is this going to continue past may? I really enjoy seeing all the people posting about the great places that I did not know existed on the west side. I moved here in 2010 and am loving it the LiveWest movement has been a great way for me to find hidden treasures in our neighborhood!
We will continue to post beyond the month of May! Suggestions are always welcome. Glad you’re enjoying things so far!