Forest Hills, MI

Forest Hills appears on census maps but has no municipal government of its own: the community spans nearly all of Ada Township and much of northern Cascade Township east of Grand Rapids. The Grand River crosses it from east to northwest and meets the Thornapple near Ada. Its 28,573 residents in 2020 made Forest Hills Michigan's most populous census-designated place, and its two-township footprint made it the state's largest CDP by area. That geography divides parks, paths, libraries, and gathering places between two township systems rather than one town center. On the Ada side, the township maintains four parks, two public natural preserves, and more than 25 miles of trails.

The Amy Van Andel Library–Ada Community Center provides study and tutoring rooms plus reservable community rooms, while the 2026 Ada Farmers Market brings more than 30 vendors to Thornapple River Drive on Tuesdays from June through October. Cascade Township lists eight parks and 17.3 miles of pedestrian paths on both sides of the Thornapple River; crews maintain the paths through winter. Its Kent District Library branch includes the large Wisner Center for programs and meetings, and Friendship Park hosts Cascade's outdoor concert series. Forest Hills Public Schools serves most of the CDP, but community activity remains visibly shared between Ada and Cascade.