Rockford, Michigan

Rockford is located 10 miles northeast of Grand Rapids and is known for its picturesque riverfront along the Rogue River. The town has capitalized on its scenic location by developing five of its parks along this waterway. I know of no other town this size that has so many parks – 11 in all spanning 30 acres. The White Pine Trail runs through the downtown area of Rockford, also next to the Rogue River and the Rockford Dam. The trail extends from Grand Rapids to Cadillac, and has three paved sections encompassing 36 miles. The rest of the trail is packed gravel or cinder composition. It appears that residents of Rockford enjoy an active lifestyle – we saw many who were walking or using bicycles, kayaks or canoes. There were walking paths on both sides of the river. Rockford has reinvented the traditional use of the street lamppost. Speakers provide music for those strolling the sidewalks and lounging in sidewalk cafes. I hope this innovation is contagious to other small towns in America. Wolverine Worldwide, a footwear manufacturer, was founded in Rockford in 1883 and is an important employer in the area.