Established in 1925, Rouge Park is Michigan’s largest urban park with 1,184 acres. It features four recreation areas, six miles of paved walking paths, pools and golf course offer many opportunities for recreation and leisure. With 4.6 miles of the Rouge River as its centerpiece, its natural areas offer many miles of hiking and mountain biking trails winding through over 400 acres of forest, 60 acres of native prairie and a 5 acre marsh. Rouge Park is a great location for discovering nature, getting fit, swimming, playing sports, camping, picnicking or just relaxing.

ROUGE PARK MASTER PLAN

A master plan is being developed for Rouge Park to to help set the vision for the park for the next several years.  

MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 

Help shape the future of Rouge Park by taking our short community survey! Your voice matters—your feedback will guide future improvements, programs, and activities in the park.

Survey Link: Rouge Park Master Plan Survey

This survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and will be open until 1/15/2026. Additional in-person and virtual opportunities to stay involved in the project are being scheduled for Winter/Spring 2026.

Upcoming projects at Rouge Park: 

- Cameras & Lighting Installation: 

New cameras and lighting are being installed in the park to provide increased security and safety within park areas. The addition of cameras and lighting will also enhance accessibility for park users when there is less daylight during open park hours. Construction will strive to have minimal impact (bored / trenched along the roadway), as well as wildlife will be considered in the light pole design. The number and exact location of light poles and cameras will be determined on a design and build basis.

Learn more about the project by viewing this presentation: Detroit Parks Lighting & Cameras Presentation 

Meetings will be held to present information about the project on December 15th & 22nd at 5pm online. If interested in attending, please join the meeting using the following information:
ZOOM: http://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/3631409738
DIAL IN: 312-626-6799 (Webinar ID: 363 140 9738)

Meetings will also take place with Park Stewardship groups for each park where lighting and cameras are planned.

Learn more about the project by viewing this presentation: Detroit Parks Lighting & Cameras Presentation 

- Brennan Pool: A new 25,000-square-foot facility is coming to Rouge Park.  The new facility will sit adjacent to Brennan Pool and will serve a need in the Cody-Rouge neighborhood, a community that currently lacks indoor recreational facilities. Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores' Family Foundation has committed $20 million to build this new community center in Rouge Park.  Find out more information about the project at our Brennan Rec Facility page.

- Rouge Prairie Restoration: In partnership with MetroParks, the City it working on restoration project of a 60 acre prairie, including a control burns to remove woody invasive plants and allow native grasses and flowers to thrive.

- Rouge Park Service Yard Expansion: the City is expanding the service yard behind Buffalo Solders to accommodate more staff, including the SkillsForLIfe program that will be based out of Rouge.

- The Arthur Jefferson Memorial Plaza: at the Detroit Aeromodelers Arthur Jefferson Model Airfield.

- Archery range improvements: funded by Wayne County.

- Nature trail improvements: including the Ma'iingan Wildwood Trail restoration and Joe Prance Nature Trail improvements.

To attend a City event or reserve a space in Rouge Park visit the City's Parks & Recreation page

Contact:

Juliana Fulton - Parks Planner

[email protected]

Rayshaun Landrum - Landscape Architect

[email protected]

And find out more about upcoming park events and projects with our Park Partners: 

• Friends of Rouge Park - the official Adopt-A-Park Steward of Rouge Park, hosts many park clean-ups and nature events
• Buffalo Soldiers - a horse barn and heritage center that provides educational programs
• Detroit Outdoors - a youth camping program in partnership with the Sierra Club and YMCA,  located in Rouge Park's Scout Hollow
• D-Town Farms - a seven-acre farm run by the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network that grows 30 different fruits and vegetables and have educational programs and community events.Motor City Mountain Biking Association - MCMBA built and maintains the mountain bike trail in the park
• Detroit Aero-modelers
• The Strathmoor Control Line Flying Club
• Elite Archery