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This Michigan sculpture park is No. 2 in US. See rankings

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This Michigan sculpture park is No. 2 in US. See rankings


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A visit to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park this spring offers a chance to enjoy one of the nation’s best sculpture parks, according to USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.

The Grand Rapids-based gardens and sculpture park, ranked No. 2 in the country, feature a diverse range of hundreds of sculptures throughout the complex, including in its Sculpture Park, according to the Meijer Gardens. Rotating exhibitions feature work by contemporary artists, with Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism set to run until March 15.

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“Spanning 158 acres in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park hosts outdoor gardens and a five-floor, 15,000-square-foot tropical conservatory. The permanent collection features more than 200 works, many of which are displayed in the sculpture park,” the 10BEST website says.

Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson, North Carolina won best sculpture park in the U.S. in the 10BEST awards.

In 2025, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park was named the Best Sculpture Park in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the third consecutive year.

Here’s what to know about the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

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What award did Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park win?

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in west Michigan ranked No. 2 among the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards top 10 sculpture parks nationwide.

“Discover the allure of open-air artistry at these 20 sculpture parks and gardens, nominated by an expert panel as the best across the United States. These captivating spaces blend the beauty of nature with the ingenuity of human creation, offering visitors a unique journey through large-scale masterpieces set against the backdrop of the American landscape,” the 10BEST website says about the nominees.

What to see at Meijer Gardens’ sculpture park

The Sculpture Park at the Meijer Gardens is home to a collection of over 50 major sculptures surrounded by a tranquil environment, with lawns, waterways, meadows, meandering paths and quiet walkways, per the gardens’ website. Artists represented in the permanent collection include Auguste Rodin, Barbara Hepworth, Ai Weiwei and beyond.

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The exhibition Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism, running until March 15, offers visitors a chance to explore shared humanity through universal themes via contemporary sculptures and art by Jaume Plensa, the website says.

What is Meijer Gardens?

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is home to five indoor theme gardens, Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory, outdoor gardens, nature trails and boardwalk, sculpture galleries and permanent sculpture collection, library, café, gift shop, education center and meeting rooms.

“Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts,” the Meijer Gardens website says.

How much is admission to the Meijer Gardens?

General admission costs $25 for adults ages 14 to 64, $20 for seniors ages 65 and older, $19 for students with student ID, $2 with Museums for All, $14 for children ages 3 to 13, and children ages 2 and under get in free, according to the Meijer Gardens website.

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 Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the Entry Desk.

Where is Meijer Gardens?

Meijer Gardens, 1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE, is located on 158 acres of land in Grand Rapids in west Michigan.

What other sculpture parks were ranked in the top 10?

Here are the U.S. sculpture parks that ranked in the 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards:

  1. Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson, North Carolina
  2. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan
  3. Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
  4. Dr. Evermor’s Sculpture Park in Sumpter, Wisconsin
  5. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park in Hamilton, Ohio
  6. Garden of Eden in Lucas, Kansas
  7. Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey
  8. Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis
  9. Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden in New Orleans
  10. Goldwell Open Air Museum in Beatty, Nevada

Who does the rankings?

The USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlights the very best travel, food, drink and lifestyle.

The panel includes industry experts who nominate their favorite attractions across a range of categories. Editors then vet the nominations and set a final list of nominees to be presented to the voting public.

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Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.



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Menominee, Michigan man arrested on sexual assault charges involving a minor

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Menominee, Michigan man arrested on sexual assault charges involving a minor


MENOMINEE, Mich. (WLUK) — 24-year-old Ethan Raymond Masters of Menominee was arrested on sexual assault charges June 30th, according to the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office, deputies learned of an incident involving a 24-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl which happened in Menominee June 22nd. Following a sexual assault investigation, police charged Masters.

Masters was arraigned July 2nd on 2 counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree. He remains in the Menominee County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond.

Menominee City Police and the Michigan State Police Crime Laboratory of Marquette assisted with the investigation.

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Michigan immigration advocates react after Supreme Court ruling on Temporary Protected Status

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Michigan immigration advocates react after Supreme Court ruling on Temporary Protected Status


Twenty-four thousand immigrants in Michigan have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), but a recent Supreme Court decision could put their protection in jeopardy.  

TPS is a humanitarian protection granted to U.S. immigrants fleeing dangerous situations in their home countries, often from natural disasters or political instability. The status allows immigrants from the designated countries to live and work in the U.S.  

The Supreme Court overturned those for 356,000 Haitians and Syrians in a recent decision. While the court’s decision directly impacted Haitian and Syrian immigrants, it also established that the Secretary of Homeland Security has the authority to determine TPS status without judicial review or input from the courts.

That means that the Secretary of Homeland Security can eliminate TPS for any immigrant group that is currently in the U.S. under protection. That puts 1.3 million immigrants in the U.S. at risk of deportation. In Florida, 113,000 healthcare workers with TPS are at risk of deportation. The Haitian population in Philadelphia is also expressing concerns about what comes next for them.  

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“The Supreme Court turned its back on our moral and legal commitments to people seeking safety,” said Christine Sauvé, manager of Policy and Communication at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. “The decision eliminates legal protections for people fleeing danger and allows the Trump Administration to really advance its mass deportation agenda.”

Left without the ability to live or work in the U.S., these Haitian and Syrian immigrants with TPS now face deportation. But going back home could still be incredibly dangerous.

“It’s not really an option to go back to their home country,” said Melanie Goldberg, immigration attorney with the Institute of Metro Detroit. “In the case of Haiti, they don’t even have an airport in Port-au-Prince that’s operational. Yet they say it’s safe for these citizens to go back.”

In Michigan, immigrants with TPS have contributed $349 million to the state’s economy, a sign that they are deeply embedded in the community, according to Sauvé.  

“Many TPS holders have been in our communities for a very long time,” Sauvé said. “They’ve really spent decades building their lives here in Michigan. We welcomed them here, only to see that completely ripped away with the stroke of a pen.”

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The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center encourages Haitian and Syrian immigrants with TPS, as well as any immigrants in the U.S. with a TPS designation, to seek out a qualified legal service provider and review the “Know Your Rights” Materials on the MIRC’s website



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Sherrone Moore’s former assistant sues University of Michigan over alleged FOIA violations

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Sherrone Moore’s former assistant sues University of Michigan over alleged FOIA violations


A former University of Michigan assistant whose relationship with ex-coach Sherrone Moore was under investigation is accusing university officials of refusing to provide records related to the probe.

Paige Shiver filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in Washtenaw Circuit Court, claiming that U of M “arbitrarily and capriciously” violated the Michigan Freedom of Information Act by repeatedly denying her requests. Shiver and her legal team are seeking a court order requiring the university to disclose the records.

The lawsuit also alleges that throughout Shiver’s four-year employment with U of M, she was “discriminated against and subjected to a hostile work environment on the basis of her sex, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Michigan law including Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act.”

“The lawsuit filed today demands transparency and accountability from the University of Michigan, President Grasso and the Board of Regents,” said Shiver’s attorney, Andrew M. Stroth. 

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On Wednesday, CBS News Detroit reached out to U of M, which says it has no comment.

The investigation led to Moore’s firing in December 2025. At the time, it was determined that he was in an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, who was later identified as Shiver. 

Moore was arrested hours later after authorities said he went to Shiver’s home and threatened to harm himself. He was charged with third-degree felony home invasion, as well as misdemeanor counts of stalking and of breaking and entering. Moore was sentenced to 18 months’ probation after pleading no contest to the two misdemeanor charges.

According to the lawsuit, Shiver filed a FOIA request in February 2026 for audio, video and transcripts of interviews of herself, her father, Jeff Shiver, and Moore. The lawsuit alleges that the university denied her request, citing the ongoing investigation.

The lawsuit alleges that Shiver submitted a similar request months later, in June, but was told by the university that it was “overly broad and vague” and “does not describe a ‘public record sufficiently to enable the public body to find the public record.’”

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The lawsuit claims that requests were submitted in March and May, respectively, for all emails sent to the law firm Jenner & Block (UMconcerns@jenner.com) and for recordings of Shiver’s meetings by the university through Jenner & Block. However, those requests were denied because the university cited that it had no responsive records, according to the lawsuit.

The law firm was hired by U of M to investigate Moore and Shiver’s relationship. The university later expanded the investigation to include the athletic department.

The lawsuit also claims that Shiver requested copies of emails between Moore and athletic director Warde Manuel that contained the words “affair,” “discipline,” “pregnancy,” “baby” and “abortion.” The university denied the request, citing the communication between U of M employees as “exempt information,” according to the lawsuit.

However, Shiver’s legal team argued that the university has not shown evidence that the emails are exempt.

“This public university paid Jenner & Block $12 million to investigate the Sherrone Moore scandal and the abuse, Title IX and Title VII violations within the athletic department and Schembechler Hall, yet now refuses to release the investigation’s findings. It was important for our client to file this initial FOIA lawsuit to ensure the truth and facts come out,” Stroth said.

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Shiver appeared on ABC News’ “Good Morning America” in April to discuss her relationship with Moore. In the interview, she said she became pregnant by Moore and sought an abortion after medical complications were discovered about the pregnancy.


Note: The video above previously aired on April 14, 2026.



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