New parking ramp, more beds: Mary Free Bed expansion prompted by ‘unbelievable demand,’ CFO says

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation enjoys an excellent local reputation. It plans a $45 M expansion, partially funded by municipal bonds actively trading.

From tiny Grand Rapids beginnings to 1891, the hospital now offers more than 110 specialized medical and sports rehabilitation programs. These programs cater to wide-ranging needs, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and amputations. It covers nearly 40 sites reaching all over Michigan and into three other states. 

https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/new-parking-ramp-more-beds-mary-free-bed-expansion-prompted-by-unbelievable-demand-cfo-says/

New parking ramp, more beds: Mary Free Bed expansion prompted by ‘unbelievable demand,’ CFO says

Katie Rosendale    |    Sep 3, 2026

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation is in the midst of a multimillion-dollar expansion that includes more beds at its main hospital and a new parking ramp.

It was prompted by “unbelievable demand,” according to Ryan Podvin, chief financial officer for Mary Free Bed.

“There’s a lot of people out there that need rehabilitation,” he told News 8. “And we’re serving everybody from our youngest little kiddos up to some of our oldest patients every single day.”

The expansion has several facets. The “largest” can be found at Mary Free Bed’s main hospital at 235 Wealthy St. SE, Podvin said. In multiple phases over the past few years, Mary Free Bed has added 48 beds on the hospital’s sixth floor. It’s also planning a roof replacement for the hospital.

“As we’ve grown and we’ve built new, we don’t want to forget to maintain our existing assets,” Podvin said.

Nearby, construction is well underway on a new 350-space parking ramp at 220 Wealthy St. SE.

“As we expand inpatient and outpatient capacity, as well as bring the kids’ hospital online, we knew parking would be at a premium,” Podvin explained.

On top of providing “badly needed” parking spots on Mary Free Bed’s campus, the ramp will also include “uplifting” murals, he continued.

“It’s going to be the most beautiful parking ramp you’ve ever seen,” he said.

It’s expected to open by the end of the year.

As its administrative staff grows, Mary Free Bed is also renovating the office building at 350 Lafayette Ave. SE. That work is expected to take around 18 months, according to Podvin.

Finally, Mary Free Bed earlier this year opened a new location at 4020 E. Beltline Ave. NE, where it provides a range of services like physical therapy, occupational therapy and orthotics and prosthetics.

To finance all of this work, Mary Free Bed is issuing bonds through the Kent Hospital Finance Authority.

“As we make these long-term infrastructure investments, we’re financing them with tax-exempt bonds, which are long term,” Podvin said.

The Kent County Board of Commissioners in August approved issuing up to $60 million in bonds for the work, though it’s not necessarily expected to cost that much, according to Podvin. That’s because Mary Free Bed still has to finalize details for the future projects. As it does so, the approval of up to $60 million offers some flexibility.

The bonds will not be a debt of the state or county, according to county documents, and taxpayers won’t be responsible for them. Rather, Mary Free Bed is responsible for them.

“Kent County does not take on any obligation,” County Administrator Al Vanderberg said during an Aug. 27 meeting. “It doesn’t count against our debt capacity or anything like that.”

Meanwhile, Mary Free Bed is gearing up to open the Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital at the end of the year.