You’ve Probably Missed This Beautiful Spot Behind Frandor

Ever go exploring in your own town and discover something you never even realized was there — hidden in plain sight?

Like maybe a park you didn't know existed?

A Park Hidden in Plain Sight

There's a beautiful park right behind the Frandor Shopping Center in Lansing that you can literally drive past and not even notice.

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To be fair, I'd seen what appeared to be sidewalks to nowhere being built beside Marshall Music on E. Saginaw Street. There aren't currently any signs to tell you such, but it turns out those sidewalks lead to the northern end of Ranney Park — which actually dates back more than 100 years!

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The main entrance to Ranney Park is off Michigan Avenue near the Michigan Secretary of State's Office. You might know the park for the recently renovated softball fields where Lansing Community College plays. If you walk one of the park's trails northward past the big sledding hill we've affectionately nicknamed "Mt. Frandor", you'll discover a new hidden oasis.

The centerpiece of the northern extension of Ranney Park is a 160-foot-long "water quality wall", designed by the engineering firm Wade Trim.

What Is the Water Quality Wall?

Storm water flows down the wall and through a series of open pools and rocky little creeks before eventually heading out to a big pond across Michigan Avenue. The wall isn't just for looks either — it's all built to manage and clean up storm water before it ends up in the Red Cedar River.

READ MORE: Hawk Island Park — A Hidden Gem in South Lansing

Ingenious how it's both functional and super pretty to look at.

Helping Wildlife Thrive

The improvements don't stop there. The project also brought in a bunch of stuff to help local wildlife thrive. They added things like logs and branches for animals to hide in, rocky spots where turtles and other creatures can sun themselves or nest, and even little underground shelters for animals to hibernate in. Plus, they planted tons of native plants to make the area feel more natural again.

A Place for People Too

For people just wanting to hang out, the Ranney Park expansion offers walking trails, cool boardwalks that link little islands together, spots to stop and take in the view, and even a sledding hill down "Mt. Frandor".

Turns out the expansion is just as much for nature as it is us people. I'm happy to know it's there! Take a look at some pictures of the new Ranney Park expansion below.