Palmer Park

UPDATE as of 5/13/22:   The Palmer Park Habitat Restoration Project is currently undergoing the competitive bidding process. Once contracts are awarded, the City will provide an update to the project schedule.   For more information, please contact Shamori Whitt at [email protected].

Palmer Park is one of the largest parks in Detroit, located at 1900 Merrill Plaissance, with 281-acres of woodlands, meadows, recreational areas and athletic fields. Over the past 4 years the city of Detroit together with various foundation and community partners, have invested in major improvements including; new full-sized and junior tennis courts, walkways, a playground, fitness zone, pavilion and plaza area, and park lighting.

Parks and Recreation held a Community Update Meeting for the Palmer Park Habitat Restoration Project on February 16, 2022 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Residents gathered to learn about the restoration of Lake Frances, the Witherell Woods and other ecological work that will be happening soon. Click here to watch the full presentation:

 

Palmer Park
Take the Palmer Park Survey

PARK PARTNERS

DEN – Detroit Exploration and Nature Center

The “Den” is the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Division’s, Nature-based Programming hub located at Palmer Park. The Den houses the Detroit Outdoors Offices, Scout Hollow Camping Gear Library, and a new Wayne State Laboratory with Dr. Jeffrey Ram. This summer the DEN will be a site for DPRD Summer Day Camp.

People for Palmer Park (PFPP)

People for Palmer Park (PFPP) is a non-profit, community-based organization committed to the preservation and revitalization of Palmer Park, a Detroit park for the good of all.

As the official Palmer Park "Adopt-a-Park" partner with the City of Detroit, PFPP works together with the city on park maintenance and improvements. PFPP also provides recreational activities, cultural festivals and community events, and other programming in the park, reaching an audience of over 10,000 each year.

CURRENT PARK PROJECTS

Habitat Restauration Project
Habitat Project Postcard

About the Project

The City of Detroit, Detroit Exploration and Nature Center (DEN), People for Palmer Park and a team of ecological experts are working to make Lake Frances and Witherell Woods more healthy, usable, and beautiful. This team has collaborated to initiate a substantial habitat restoration initiative in Palmer Park as one of seven projects selected to receive grant funding to benefit communities and wildlife habitats in southeast Michigan by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Over the next year, we will clean up the Lake, replace invasive species with native plants, and improve walking and biking paths on the South end of the park. We will also be developing a long-term ecological restoration and management plan for the remnant woods occupying the center of the park. We have begun the detailed planning, design, permitting and an intensive community engagement process for this effort, including a public survey. We are also in the process of seeking participation from allied stakeholder groups, agencies, and institutions, all of whom are essential to the long-term success of this effort. This amazing ecological transformation in the much-cherished Palmer Park, will provide a myriad of opportunities, including education, research, public access to nature, and others.

This project is funded by the City of Detroit and NFWF.

Geese and Ducks Sign

On-Going Community Engagement at Palmer Park in April

  • PFPP Annual Meeting April 17th
  • PFPP Earth day Event April 24th
  • DEN Event