GR Walks Brings Local History to Life with GPS Walking Tours for Any Apple/Android Smartphone

Grand Rapids – July 15, 2013 – Josh Leo is digging up the history of Grand Rapids and putting it in the hands of iPhone and Android phone users. GR Walks — an app that features a number of walking tours of landmarks and neighborhoods in Grand Rapids— is available for download today. GR Walks provides visitors with brief history, maps and photos of each location. The app also uses GPS location to help visitors find each stop.

Leo’s GR Walks app idea first came to public attention in February of 2011 as one of the winners of Rick DeVos’ first “5x5 Night.” Shortly after the event, Calvin College became interested in the app as a way to engage its students in the community. As partners, Leo and Calvin College’s Service Learning Department have completed two tours for the app that are now available for download. The two tours are of Eastown & East Hills and Heritage Hill North. Future tours will cover other Grand Rapids neighborhoods including the central and south areas of Heritage Hill and local points of interest such as public art, churches and architecture.

“The goal of this app is to bring history to the place where it happened,” says Josh Leo, GR Walks founder. “I want to tell the story of Grand Rapids through the people who lived in the houses, the businesses that shaped the neighborhoods and the communities that have made an impact on this city. This app makes that information more accessible and interactive.”

GR Walks is now available as a free download from the Apple iTunes store and the Android Market. Visit www.grwalks.com for more information, including videos and screenshots of the app.

If you would like further information on GR Walks, or you would like to schedule an interview, please contact:

Josh Leo: 616-304-6403 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @grwalks
To download the app:
Apple: http://bit.ly/12zFW6d Android: http://bit.ly/12edx5Z