Underwriting support from:
Homemade sled built for WinterWest /Courtesy of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
WinterWest banner at Richmond Park /Courtesy of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
WinterWest by Friends of Grand Rapids Parks is back for its sixth year at Richmond Park on the WestSide. The outdoor event happening February 12-14 is designed to get the people of Grand Rapids outdoors and enjoying the City's parks all year long. Activities include Adult, Corporate and Kids cardboard sled races; and family sled building.
WinterWest begins Friday with a new event, Adult and Corporate Crazy Cardboard Sled Race, presented by Long Road Distillers. Registration is $40 for the Adult and Corporate Crazy Cardboard Sled Race online until 5pm at the Grand Rapids Sports and Social Club. Onsite registration begins at 5pm at Grand Rapids Sports and Social Club site. The first race starts at 5:30. Prizes for top finishers include: Red Wings hockey tickets for four, a private tasting and tour at Long Road Distillers for twelve, Long Road Distillers gift cards and five Long Road Distillers shirts.
Saturday is the Kids Crazy Cardboard Building Day from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. where families can get together and build a sled for their kids to race.
Westside neighbor, Paul Knust says, "We’ve heard from some families that their kids really look forward to building a sled together with their parents every January, it’s becoming a winter tradition on the west side for families. It’s been enjoyable and rewarding to see familiar faces year after year show up with creative and unique cardboard sleds."
On Sunday the event will wrap up with the Kids Crazy Cardboard Race at 1 p.m., courtesy of West Michigan Credit Union. Awards will be given for both 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in the race and to the most creative sleds. Registration is at the WinterWest Facebook page.
The warming shelter at the Richmond Park Lodge will be open all weekend during events with hot chocolate and coffee provided by Operations Systems Technologies.
“The West Side will be the place to be the weekend of February 12-14,” says Paul Knust, a founding committee member of WinterWest. “It’s always fun to see what ideas people come up with for the Crazy Cardboard Sled Races and, of course, to see Richmond Park come alive with such a diverse community calling it home.”
For more information check WinterWest's Facebook page or their page on the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks website. Richmond Park is at 1732 Tamarack Avenue NW.
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