Grand Rapids approves $1.45 million for final Sullivan Field renovation phase

Grand Rapids commissioners approved an additional $1.45 million for the final phase of renovations at Sullivan Field, the city-owned historic ballpark at 650 Valley Ave. NW, according to FOX 17 reporting.

The work is expected to continue through 2026, with construction targeted for completion by the end of the year. Organizers with Fans of Valley Field hope to hold a ribbon-cutting on April 15, 2027, but that remains a proposed goal rather than a confirmed city event.

What the final phase includes

The reported final-phase scope includes a new playing field and bullpens, landscaping, brick paving, restroom renovations, a pavilion, a maintenance building and a new entrance into the park.

Plans also call for a building housing a museum focused on Grand Rapids baseball history. The improvements are intended to address field conditions, visitor access and supporting park facilities while preserving Sullivan Field’s historic wooden grandstand.

What the records show about cost and funding

FOX 17 described the renovation as a $4.94 million project. A February report from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business described a revised $5.28 million cost after structural problems were found in the grandstand. The available records reviewed for this article do not reconcile those figures into one confirmed final project total.

The city’s FY2027 Preliminary Fiscal Plan separately lists $500,000 for Sullivan Field Improvements under Parks and Recreation. The budget record does not explain in the available entry whether that amount is included in, additional to or otherwise connected to the reported $1.45 million commission approval.

The city’s Parks and Recreation annual update lists $1.5 million in Fans of Valley Field funding for Sullivan Field and $1.73 million from a RAP 2.0 MEDC grant and state appropriation funding. Those nonprofit and grant dollars are separate funding sources from a city commission authorization, although all support the broader renovation effort.

Why the work was delayed

Crain’s reported that construction was delayed after crews found structural problems associated with aging wood in the grandstand. The discovery changed the project’s scope and increased the reported cost, with some planned elements revised through value engineering.

The structural work is part of a broader effort to preserve a ballpark built in 1937 and renamed Sullivan Field in 1996 to honor Bob Sullivan, the owner and manager of the Grand Rapids Sullivans.

What residents should watch next

The current target is completion by the end of 2026. Key next steps include confirming the final project cost, completing the authorized site work and announcing whether the proposed April 15, 2027, ribbon-cutting will proceed.

For west-side residents, park users and taxpayers, the immediate consequence is continued construction at a city-owned neighborhood park. If the schedule holds, the completed work will provide updated baseball facilities, improved access and new public-facing spaces while preserving Sullivan Field’s historic character.

Sources

• City of Grand Rapids FY2027 Preliminary Fiscal Plan
• FOX 17: Grand Rapids approves $1.45M to finish Sullivan Field renovation
• Crain's Grand Rapids Business: Sullivan Field renovation set to wrap up this year after lengthy delay