Upcoming Project at Luton Park: Geological Survey Work Underway

I wanted to give you a quick heads-up about a small project taking place at Luton Park next week.

As part of a broader initiative, Kent County Parks entered into an agreement with the Michigan Geological Survey (based at Western Michigan University) to perform some core drilling in several of Kent County parks, including Luton. This work is part of their Kent County Subsurface Investigation and Surficial Geological Mapping Project.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Michigan Geological Survey and their work, you can visit their website here:

👉 Michigan Geological Survey Website

About the Project

Here’s a quick overview of what the project involves:

• The team will conduct county-wide drilling to better understand Kent County’s subsurface geology.

• They will also update the county’s surficial geologic map, helping clarify how groundwater moves through Kent and neighboring Ottawa Counties.

• This project will also identify aggregate resources (like sand and gravel), which is important for future infrastructure planning in our growing region.

• Mapping and investigation are expected to be completed within a single year.

• The final deliverables will include:

  • An updated surficial geologic map

  • New subsurface data

  • A GeMS database for future reference

What to Expect at Luton Park

• Work is scheduled to take place next week.

• The setup will be small and temporary, similar to what you’d see with a water well drilling rig.

• Zero lasting impact on the park is expected—the survey teams have been very respectful at other parks where they have worked.