About CNA
The Creston Neighborhood Association serves the residents of Creston, the largest neighborhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan!
A Little About Us
Since the Creston Neighborhood Association became incorporated in 1979, neighbors have continued to rally together to shape their home community by preserving what is good and changing what needs improvement.
Through CNA, Creston neighbors:
Helped to keep a Grand Rapids Public Library branch in the heart of Creston
Rallied to bring a credit union to the neighborhood
Supported strong neighborhood schools by organizing parents and safe routes to school
Collaborated with partners to create Catherine’s Health Center
Organized business owners to revive Creston’s business district
Collaborated with artists & students on public art projects
Brought many entities together to build bioretention islands along Plainfield Ave-– the first of their kind in Grand Rapids!
Created an urban orchard at Aberdeen Park
AND MORE!
What We Do
We cultivate a neighborhood culture of care for our environment.
How?
Native plant education and perennial exchange.
Advocacy for green infrastructure.
Partnerships between neighbors and City of Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation and Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
We connect neighbors.
How?
Organize block parties.
Communicate neighborhood news and events
Safety education
Community events
We organize residents to have a voice about land use and development.
How?
We organize neighbor voices to affect projects in our community, ensuring that neighbors have a say in the future of our neighborhood.
We coordinate leadership development so that residents can learn about current issues and best practices in housing affordability, public transportation, sustainable land use, workforce development and more.
A committee of residents meets monthly to hear presentations about proposed developments and provide feedback based on neighborhood priorities.
We facilitate equitable civic engagement.
How?
Organize opportunities for neighbors to learn about City initiatives.
Provide leadership training.
Help neighbors connect to opportunities for public service and volunteering.
Meet Your CNA Team
Creston's official hype team.
Staff Members
Gregg Hampshire
Gregg joined CNA in the spring of 2022, previously having worked for The Urban League of West Michigan and Junior Achievement here in Grand Rapids. Gregg and his wife Chloe have owned their home on Colfax, right in the heart of Creston, since 2017. When he isn’t at CNA, you can find him trying to catch up on sleep—he and Chloe just wel-
comed their first child. Once sleep schedules regulate he will surely be back at tending to his plants and learning new instruments. He believes that neighbors working together can make the community a great place for everyone.
Margaret Williams
Margaret is the newest member of the CNA staff—joining us summer 2022. She moved to the Creston neighborhood this summer but has always been tied to Creston—her dad and all 12 of her aunts and uncles grew up across the street from the current location of the CNA office! When she isn’t busy working on the CNA social media and connecting with business owners on the corridor she loves playing the guitar, thrifting quirky home décor and working on her photography skills.
Kymie Spring
Kymie has been an integral member of our CNA staff since 2017. She technically is six houses outside of the Creston border but feels she is a member of the neighborhood, and we agree! When she is not activating our local community around important issues she enjoys reading and gardening.
Board of Directors
Andrew Wahlstrom
2021– Present (Board 2019– Present) Andrew has lived in the Riverside neighborhood for 5 years. During the day he works as an Architect at Progressive AE (not the insurance company) and wishes he had more time to go fishing and golfing. He joined the board when he learned more about what CNA does for the neighborhood, and wanted to help the community where he plans to live long term.
Ashley Landis
2020—Present (Board 2019—Present) Ashley moved to Creston in 2016, just two
blocks from Riverside Park. She is a recruiter by profession. “I joined the CNA board because I wanted to stop saying ’someone should ____’ I decided I needed to be the someone to act. Being active on the Land Use Committee and Board have introduced me to so many neighbors and provided so many opportunities to make a difference.”
Greg Plyler
Greg first started his journey with CNA as a volunteer in 2017, shortly after moving to the neighborhood. He works at Acrisure doing insurance accounting but in his free time enjoys biking through Riverside park and walking to Frosty Boy for ice cream. He first started volunteering because he wanted to be involved in an organization that was making a difference in his community. He has continued his service by joining the board because he believes that CNA is truly making Creston a better place for all neighbors.
Ric Maycroft
2017—Present (Board 2015—Present) Ric has lived in Creston for over 30 years! He works as an Engineer for Dematic Corp but in his spare time enjoys playing the trumpet, participating in the Living Green and Climate Chaos Committees, and gardening.“ I joined the board because I believe in the mission of bringing neighbors together and supporting them with information and resources.”
Joe Soule
(2022—Present) Joe has lived in Creston since 2015 and is a native Grand Rapidian. Joe enjoys
spending time with his grand children and taking walks through the neighborhood when he is not working at
Dégagé Ministries. Joe started volunteering Kymie, helping with door knocking and other tasks and decided to
take his commitment to the neighborhood a step further by joining the board this year.
Dale Hotelling
Dale lived in Creston 1957-60 and returned in 2004. He is a retired United Methodist Pastor and former Habitat for Humanity Director who enjoys gardening and repurposing/ restoring vintage décor and furniture. Dale joined the board because he cares about this neighborhood and has so many fond memories of the parks, schools and loving neighbors.
Tom Dudek
(2020– Present) Tom has lived in Creston since 1961 (with a 9 yr hiatus for school). He is retired
from Michigan State University and now enjoys spending his days gardening, golfing and fishing. Tom joined the
board to give back to the neighborhood that has been good to his family and friends who love living in the area.
He wanted to be a part of maintaining Creston’s strong businesses and increasing safety of our neighborhood.
Stephen Draft–Peppin
Steve moved in across from Riverside Park in 2014. He works as a Manager of IT at Sparrow Health System and is also a licensed attorney. He enjoys playing wheelchair tennis, kayaking, reading, trying new food and craft beer. Steve got involved with CNA through the Land Use Committee because he wanted to be help develop Creston businesses/amenities. Learning through the LUC & board motivates him to explore creative solutions neighborhood needs.
Jim Howe
Howe—Board 2017– Present (previously Treasurer 2019—2021) Jim has lived in Creston for 13 years—relocating from NJ and ending up in a home near Briggs Park. He works for Wolverine Worldwide as a manager of contact operations. Most weekends in the summer you can find him biking, swimming at Briggs pool, or hang-
ing with his neighbors. Jim joined the CNA board in 2017 because he was already active in the community and wanted to increase his support the neighborhood.
Kristina Colby
Board 2018– Present (previously President 2019—2021) Kristina moved to Creston in 2017,
after relocating to MI from Southern California in 2015. She and her partner, Chase, live on Graceland St near
Plainfield / Knapp. Kristina works for the City of Kentwood, producing community programs and events. On the
weekends she can usually be found exploring trails, gardening, or at her family cottage. “I joined the CNA board
because I wanted to connect with and give back to my new community. Serving the neighborhood has been
rewarding and fun! Creston is a great neighborhood and I’m happy to call it home.”