Op Ed: We’ll See you in Detroit’s Parks

As published in the Detroit News on Sunday, June 9:

Members of the Detroit Parks Coalition were dismayed to learn that Michigan Trails Magazine does not include any trails in the City of Detroit. Being overlooked isn’t new to us; even the nationally syndicated book Best Hikes Detroit and Ann Arbor doesn’t include a single hike in the City of Detroit.

Despite these glaring omissions, Detroit’s parks are assets for the entire southeast Michigan region. The largest old growth forest in southeast Michigan—one of only 12 in the state—is in Detroit’s Palmer Park. Rouge Park, the largest urban park in the state, boasts over 10 miles of hiking trails, 5 miles of bike trails, a campground, and a whole host of summer programs—all in Detroit. Chandler Park, on the east side, is home to Detroit’s only water park. Belle Isle is the second most visited state park in the country, behind only Niagara Falls. And the Detroit Riverwalk was voted USA Today’s Best Riverwalk in America, three years in a row.

The Detroit Parks Coalition is a group of leaders representing the city’s largest and most significant parks, from downtown and the riverfront to neighborhoods all around the city. In partnership with our city and state governments, private philanthropy, and dedicated community members, we have seen Detroit’s parks, always gems, shine again in recent years. Every day, we see diverse groups of people enjoying our parks. The range of uses is wide: parents playing with their children, family picnics and reunions, walking and biking clubs, sports and recreation, birdwatching, urban gardening, and more. Our usage data shows that over 2 million individuals visit Detroit’s parks each year—20% of our state’s population, drawing from our entire region.

Our new park events calendar highlights everything going on in the parks this summer. In the month of June alone, there are over 160 free, drop-in activities to enjoy. Check one out—and while you’re out there, look around. Summer is here, the weather is fine, and Detroit’s parks are busy and beautiful.

We’ll see you in the parks.

Maud Lyon, Belle Isle Conservancy
Alex Allen III, Chandler Park Conservancy
Anthony Benavides, Clark Park Coalition
Sigal Hemy, Yvette Pullom-Bass, Ian Solomon, & Rob Streit, Detroit Parks Coalition
Todd Scott, Detroit Greenways Coalition
Rachel Frierson, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
David Cowan, Downtown Detroit Partnership
Ann Byrne, Friends of Patton Park
Sally Petrella & Paula Trilety, Friends of Rouge Park
Maureen L. Stapleton, Midtown Detroit, Inc.
Susan Stellar & Gail Tubbs, O’Hair Park Community Association
Barbara Barefield, Rochelle Lento & Stacy Varner, People for Palmer Park
Ryan Myers-Johnson, Sidewalk Detroit
Alicia Bradford, Wayne County Parks
Laura Trudeau, At Large Member