Made In Walker

A new public library can be just another building, or it can become the place where a city’s identity comes alive. That’s the question we dig into with Walker Mayor Gary Carey as the new Walker Library rises in full view and creates buzz everywhere from breakfast spots to the grocery store. You can feel the pride as we talk through the “why” behind the project: Walker had the smallest physical library in the Kent District Library system, and a growing community needed a space that finally mat...

Imagine rolling from your neighborhood straight onto fresh singletrack without loading a car. That’s the promise at Johnson Park, where we’re building a new regional trailhead on the Grand River Greenway with six to eight miles of purpose-built mountain bike trails, a four-season restroom, expanded parking, and welcoming gathering spaces. We’re joined by Kent County Parks and the West Michigan Mountain Bike Association to unpack how smart design, committed partners, and an energized community...

A neighborhood salon can be more than a place for great hair—it can be a quiet engine of trust, training, and local pride. We sit down with Seven in Main Salon owner and Downtown Development Authority member Cindy Ludwick to uncover how a thoughtful business model, steady mentorship, and civic service can shape both a team and a city. From the careful story behind the salon’s name to the systems that let four generations feel at home in the chair, Cindy shows how culture and consistency turn ...

A bottleneck that lasted decades is finally gone, and you can feel the difference the first time you cross it. We bring together MDOT’s John Richard and Walker City Engineer Scott Connors to unpack how the new Fruit Ridge Bridge and interchange deliver safer travel, smoother access to jobs, and real options for people walking and biking. From two skinny lanes to a five-lane span with a 14-foot path and smarter ramp alignments, this is the rare project that makes commutes calmer, business acce...

Some names turn into anchors for a whole community. Trevor Slot is one of those names. We open the door to his life through vivid memories, honest grief, and the living legacy he left inside the Walker Police Department and within the hearts of his daughters. What you’ll hear isn’t a eulogy—it’s a map for how kindness, humor, and everyday presence can shape an entire city. Captain Brandyn Heugel and Sergeant Robin Malley paint a grounded portrait of the man behind the badge: an officer who i...

Mayor Gary Carey delivers his State of the City Address for 2025, highlighting "acceleration" as this year's theme to reflect the increased velocity of growth and development in Walker. Public safety remains a top priority with exceptional community engagement from police and fire departments resulting in a 22% decrease in major crimes over two years despite the city's rapid growth. • The Fruit Ridge Bridge project will have the biggest impact on residents in 2025, serving 16,000 jobs within...

What makes someone leave the warmth of the Gulf Coast to lead a fire department in Michigan? For Russell Schoultz, Walker's new Fire Chief, it was the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a community that immediately felt like home. Chief Schoultz brings an impressive 34-year public safety career to Walker, including extensive experience with hurricane response, disaster management, and leading statewide operations in Louisiana. But it's his fresh perspective on community safety th...

Police-community relationships often fluctuate like a rollercoaster, affected by events across the nation in ways most professions never experience. Yet in Walker, Michigan, a unique partnership between electrical contractor Feyen ZyIstra and the Walker Police Department is creating a stable foundation of trust and connection through their annual National Night Out block party. When Feyen ZyIstra moved into the former Fairview Elementary School building, they made a conscious decision ...