John Ball Park Plat
Easy outdoor access
Median $311K·Walkability 5.6/10·Schools 4.5/10
It's the zoo, mostly—John Ball Zoo sits right here, 2,000-plus animals and nearly half the neighborhood in green space, which means you're living in one of those rare spots where a major regional attraction isn't somewhere you drive to, it's your backyard. The Plat itself is modest and walkable, nine acres of smaller lots (averaging about 5,200 square feet) where homes run around $285K, and downtown is just five minutes away; what makes it work is the density of actual things within a few blocks—96 restaurants, a coffee shop an eight-minute walk down the road, a grocery store less than a mile off. Transit stops are practically on your doorstep. You're close to Grand Rapids Public Schools, with the larger John Ball Park neighborhood providing that anchor of green space and those distinctive quirks—tunnels under highways, the Mines Golf Course suspended above a gypsum mine—that make living here feel less like suburban convenience and more like being part of something with actual character.
Why people love it here
Park-rich area
- 70 parks within 1 mile
- Sibley Tunnel: 4 min walk
- Picnic Area: 6 min walk
$311K median
- 4 sales in last 12mo
Walkable for daily errands
- John Ball Zoo Station (EB): 3 min walk
- 19 places within a 10 min walk
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in John Ball Park Plat
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,108/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
The interest rate shown is not an annual percentage rate (APR). Rate displayed is the current average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey and is subject to change without notice. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
4 homes sold in John Ball Park Plat this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthFlood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Picnic Area
0.2 mi
Parks Nearby
70
within 1 mile
Median Sale Price
$311K
4 sales in last 12mo
Parcels / Units
42
Median Lot Size
0.11 ac
2587 sq ft – 0.22 ac
Walkability
Fair
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
A & B Grocery
La Fondita Antojitos Mexicanos
+1 more
Tim Hortons
+1 more
Putt Putt's Bar & Grille
+1 more
Picnic Area
+1 more
Unnamed playground
Lake Leota
+1 more
Millennium Park Beach
Sibley Tunnel
Covell Dog Park
+1 more
Butterworth Park Trail
Butterworth Park Launch
8th Day Gym
John Ball Zoo Station (EB)
+1 more
Rite Aid
West Side Library
+1 more
daycare
Celebration Cinema Studio Park
Based on 29 rated schools nearby
Range: 1/10 to 8/10
School District: Grand Rapids Public Schools
Crime in John Ball Park Plat is reported at the city level, not the neighborhood level. The FBI doesn't publish reliable crime rates for individual neighborhoods, and within any community crime varies street to street. For an accurate, comparable picture, see the jurisdiction-wide figures for Kent County.
Kent County crime & safety stats →To buy a median-priced John Ball Park Plat home (around $310,500) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $55k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,065 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,065/mo | $55,073 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,378/mo | $63,406 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,482/mo | $66,192 |
Estimates use a 6.49% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Association and local-government details are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and state registries, and can change. Confirm directly with the association or municipality before relying on them.
Solar potential
~$885/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,458 kWh/yr · offsets ~62% of a typical home's use
City of Grand Rapids Water System
Regional water provider serving ~280,000 across Kent and Ottawa counties.
City of Grand Rapids Environmental Services (Water Resource Recovery Facility)
WRRF treats ~40 MGD of wastewater.
City of Grand Rapids Refuse & Recycling
City-run refuse/recycling cart program for residents.
Consumers Energy Co · ~13.7¢/kWh
Investor-owned utility serving the region.
Confirm by addressDTE Energy
DTE Gas serves much of Grand Rapids natural gas; verify by address.
Confirm by addressServices for Grand Rapids · Source: grandrapidsmi.gov
Utility, solar, and service details for John Ball Park Plat are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
🛒 Grocery(30)
A & B Grocery
Grocery Store
Boardwalk Subs
Grocery Store
Grocery Store
+27 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(14)
La Fondita Antojitos Mexicanos
Restaurant
Depot Snacks
Restaurant
Bird's Nest Snacks
Restaurant
Fast Food
Tiger Paws Pizza
Restaurant
+9 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(15)
+12 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(15)
+12 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(29)
Sacred Heart School
Sibley School
School
Lexington School
Lexington
+24 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(10)
Fitness Center
8th Day Gym
Fitness Center
Planet Fitness
Fitness Center
+7 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(8)
Covell Dog Park
Dog Park
Downtown Westside Dog Park
Dog Park
Dog Park in Kragt Plat Area
Dog Park
+5 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(7)
Butterworth Park Trail
Bike Path
Oxford Street Trail
Bike Path
Bike Path
Bike Path
+4 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(4)
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
+1 more within 5 miles
🚌 Transit(30)
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
+27 more within 5 miles
💊 Pharmacies(10)
+7 more within 5 miles
👶 Childcare(2)
📚 Libraries(11)
+8 more within 5 miles
⚡ EV Charging(4)
Unnamed ev_charging
EV Charging
Unnamed ev_charging
EV Charging
EV Charging
Frequently asked about John Ball Park Plat
- What do homes cost in John Ball Park Plat?
- The median home value in John Ball Park Plat is about $310,500. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the John Ball Park Plat housing market?
- no homes are listed in John Ball Park Plat right now, and 4 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve John Ball Park Plat?
- John Ball Park Plat is served by Grand Rapids Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Center for Economicology (8/10).
- Is John Ball Park Plat walkable?
- John Ball Park Plat scores 5.6/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.