City of Kentwood, partnering with Kent County, offers public Wi-Fi at parks, City campus

City of Kentwood City Hall, on the City Campus. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

The City of Kentwood has partnered with Kent County to “help residents stay connected while enjoying many of its parks and visiting the main City campus” with free public wireless internet access now available at 13 Kentwood locations.

The access is funded by Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security ( CARES) Act funding allocated to increase free public Wi-Fi throughout Kent County. According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 33,000 households in Kent County do not have a broadband internet subscription.

“The pandemic has increased demand for internet use and many in our community do not have access,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “We are grateful to be able to provide more public Wi-Fi across Kentwood for our residents, especially our students, to stay connected for work, school and play.”

Kentwood joins 16 other communities and Kent County Parks as part of the initiative to add free public Wi-Fi access across the county.

The free access is available at the following Kentwood locations:

Bowen Station Park, 4499 Bowen Blvd. SE

City Campus — City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE

City Campus — volleyball courts, 5068 Breton Ave. SE

East Paris Nature Park, 5995 East Paris Ave. SE

Home Acres Park, 145 Farnham St. SE

Jaycee Park, 1088 Gentian Drive SE

Kellogg Woods Park, 275 Kellogg Woods Park Drive SE

Northeast Park, 1900 Middleground Drive SE

Old Farm Park, 2350 Embro Drive SE

Pinewood Park, 1999 Wolfboro Drive SE

Stanaback Park, 3717 Whitebud Drive

Stauffer Station Park, 2360 52nd St. SE

Veterans Memorial Park, 355 48th St. SE

Kent County was awarded $114.6 million in CARES Act funding for COVID-19 economic relief efforts. Of that, $1 million was allocated for near-term solutions for free public Wi-Fi access throughout the county.

The costs of Kentwood’s newest Wi-Fi access points and their installation were covered by Kent County through the CARES Act funding. The total infrastructure investment in the City of Kentwood was $60,855, according to a city statement.

The City of Kentwood will also pay electricity and monthly Wi-Fi service charges. The total cost for the city is expected to be $18,000 over the next two years.