Location:
847 Greenbrier Drive SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
616.957.8129
Hours:
Mon - Fri
1:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Sat
12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Sun
1:00 pm - 9:00 pm
| © 2011 Forest Hills Park Association. All rights reserved. Company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Email questions/comments to webmaster@fhpa.org. This site created by A2Ppd. |
| Members Only Please NOTE that The Forest Hills Park Association's Park, Pool and Tennis Courts are for FHPA Members use only. |
Our History
Forest Hills Plat, developed largely by Grand Rapids' general contractor RD Brooks Inc., opened its clubhouse and pool
in 1963. That same year, the homeowners established Forest Hills Park Association to oversee it. While in the early
years most all those living in the plat bought into the association exclusively, membership has since been extended to
families outside the plat as openings have occurred. Key original members credited with being instrumental in the
initial startup include Mr. & Mrs. Tom Evert, Mr. & Mrs. Jack Hogan, Mr. & Mrs. Charley Vandenberg, Mr. & Mrs. John
Wandas, and Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Wietke.
Although the Lowell YMCA was contracted to operate the facility its first year of existence, the ensuing years have
brought a short list of long-tenured local school coaches. The Wandas' and Evert's first hire in 1964 of Gary
VanderLende stretched 15 years and culminated with the completion of Creston High School's pool in 1978 and his
selection as their first head coach (for whom the Creston Pool is now named). Tim McGee, now Forest Hills Northern
Husky Football Freshman Coach, and Dan Scripsema, now Jenison's Swim Coach, each then headed the pool for a
couple years apiece (1979-1980 & 1981-1982, respectively). The Sugiyama family has been at the helm since: Dave
Sugiyama for 27 years (1983-2009) and now his son, Tim (2010-Present). Keeping with tradition, both taught in the
classroom in addition to the pool - Dave at Grand Rapids Public Schools and Tim at Northview.
Improvements the association has made over the years, with this consistent pool staff leading the way, include the
conversion of the clubhouse from a flat to peaked roof (1994?), addition of the set of upper tennis courts (1995),
replacement of the platform dive with a water slide (2009), replacement of the original wood decking with an extension
of the cement apron (2010), installation of a cabana/shade canopy (2010), etc. All were made possible by the Capitol
Improvement Fund into which all new members make a one-time payment. Future plans calling for an updated
playground (Fall 2011), pool liner, etc. will also likely be paid out of some mix of matching donations/said fund although
over the years the association's board has implemented a Contingency Fund should something unforeseen go wrong.
Proper budgeting and the continued interest of the local community have left the FHPA in rather sound financial
standing.
Forest Hills Plat, developed largely by Grand Rapids' general contractor RD Brooks Inc., opened its clubhouse and pool
in 1963. That same year, the homeowners established Forest Hills Park Association to oversee it. While in the early
years most all those living in the plat bought into the association exclusively, membership has since been extended to
families outside the plat as openings have occurred. Key original members credited with being instrumental in the
initial startup include Mr. & Mrs. Tom Evert, Mr. & Mrs. Jack Hogan, Mr. & Mrs. Charley Vandenberg, Mr. & Mrs. John
Wandas, and Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Wietke.
Although the Lowell YMCA was contracted to operate the facility its first year of existence, the ensuing years have
brought a short list of long-tenured local school coaches. The Wandas' and Evert's first hire in 1964 of Gary
VanderLende stretched 15 years and culminated with the completion of Creston High School's pool in 1978 and his
selection as their first head coach (for whom the Creston Pool is now named). Tim McGee, now Forest Hills Northern
Husky Football Freshman Coach, and Dan Scripsema, now Jenison's Swim Coach, each then headed the pool for a
couple years apiece (1979-1980 & 1981-1982, respectively). The Sugiyama family has been at the helm since: Dave
Sugiyama for 27 years (1983-2009) and now his son, Tim (2010-Present). Keeping with tradition, both taught in the
classroom in addition to the pool - Dave at Grand Rapids Public Schools and Tim at Northview.
Improvements the association has made over the years, with this consistent pool staff leading the way, include the
conversion of the clubhouse from a flat to peaked roof (1994?), addition of the set of upper tennis courts (1995),
replacement of the platform dive with a water slide (2009), replacement of the original wood decking with an extension
of the cement apron (2010), installation of a cabana/shade canopy (2010), etc. All were made possible by the Capitol
Improvement Fund into which all new members make a one-time payment. Future plans calling for an updated
playground (Fall 2011), pool liner, etc. will also likely be paid out of some mix of matching donations/said fund although
over the years the association's board has implemented a Contingency Fund should something unforeseen go wrong.
Proper budgeting and the continued interest of the local community have left the FHPA in rather sound financial
standing.
Our Mission
A Throwback to Real Community... Forest Hills Park Association takes great pride in the fact little has changed over the
years: from coaching staff, to class offerings, to class times, to special events like the 4th of July Parade and Super
Saturday. A parent can not only sign their child up for the same class at the same time and day of the week as they
themselves possibly had as a young child, chances are when it comes to swimming they may even have the same coach
some thirty years later. In fact, swim meets are still run with paper, pencils, and stopwatches. Over the years these
constants built not only a sense of pride but a sense of community in that everyone shares a common bond via a rather
fixed experiential base. To experience FHPA is to experience REAL community.
A Throwback to Real Community... Forest Hills Park Association takes great pride in the fact little has changed over the
years: from coaching staff, to class offerings, to class times, to special events like the 4th of July Parade and Super
Saturday. A parent can not only sign their child up for the same class at the same time and day of the week as they
themselves possibly had as a young child, chances are when it comes to swimming they may even have the same coach
some thirty years later. In fact, swim meets are still run with paper, pencils, and stopwatches. Over the years these
constants built not only a sense of pride but a sense of community in that everyone shares a common bond via a rather
fixed experiential base. To experience FHPA is to experience REAL community.
About Us
Who We Are
Welcome to the NEW Forest Hills Park Association
(FHPA) website. We are a member-only
neighborhood recreation facility open annually
from the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend
through Labor Day. While our facilities range from
a Kids' Playground to an Outdoor Heated Pool to a
Rentable Community Room, our services range
from Swim Lessons to a Swim Team to Private
Tennis Lessons. Find out more by clicking on one
of the above links...
Where We Are
We are located within Grand Rapids Charter
Township at the northwest quadrant of the Ada
Drive/Forest Hill Ave intersection (the plat across
from the Southeast YMCA).
Who We Are
Welcome to the NEW Forest Hills Park Association
(FHPA) website. We are a member-only
neighborhood recreation facility open annually
from the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend
through Labor Day. While our facilities range from
a Kids' Playground to an Outdoor Heated Pool to a
Rentable Community Room, our services range
from Swim Lessons to a Swim Team to Private
Tennis Lessons. Find out more by clicking on one
of the above links...
Where We Are
We are located within Grand Rapids Charter
Township at the northwest quadrant of the Ada
Drive/Forest Hill Ave intersection (the plat across
from the Southeast YMCA).
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| Annual Pool Mtg - 7:00 p.m. Feb 6, GR Twp |