City of Detroit celebrates the completion of new one-acre dog park at historic Palmer Park

Today, City officials joined community organizations and members, and a plethora of pups to celebrate the opening of the Palmer Park Dog Park, the newly renovated 1-acre space at historic Palmer Park. The new dog park features separate small and large dog areas, and many new additions to add to Palmer Park’s amenities, including:   

New dog park amenities include: 

• Drinking fountains for people and pups 
• Walkway connections 
• Waste bag stations 
• Decorative boulders 
• Park shelters 

The $500,000 dog park renovations were made possible through funding from the City of Detroit and are a product of community input and outreach.  The park is located off 7 Mile Rd at the north end of Palmer Park, a location selected through a community survey that generated more than 500 responses. The location was finalized with 61% of Detroiters’ support, which solidified the importance of community input and advocacy within and for Palmer Park. 

“Councilmember Calloway, who is a big lover of rescue dogs, really fought hard to fund this dog park so residents in her district could have a beautiful & safe place to take their four-legged friends,” said Brad Dick, Chief Operating Officer for the City of Detroit. “We are very grateful for her strong support of this great project.” 

People for Palmer Park (PFPP) worked in conjunction with Council Member Calloway to advocate for project funding at City Council. Additionally, a subcommittee of PFPP, Palmer Park Unleashed (PPU), obtained a Kip-D grant from the Kresge Foundation to help supplement community outreach and engagement for the renovation project.  

“The opening of the City of Detroit Palmer Park Dog Park is very exciting,” said Stacy Varner, President of People for Palmer Park. “We, People for Palmer Park and the Ad hoc committee Palmer Park Unleashed, have been working on this for quite a while. With the funding from KiP:D, we were able to develop a plan, engage the community with a survey and present an actionable plan to the City of Detroit. With the support of Councilwoman Angela Calloway, the City approved and installed a beautiful 1+ acre dog park for both large and small dogs. The design also includes a hydration station and seating areas. This is a wonderful addition to one of the City of Detroit's gems... Palmer Park”. 

Palmer Park is one of the largest parks in Detroit, spanning over 281 acres. 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. 

"As a Councilmember, I worked closely with the city of Detroit and People for Palmer Park to make our vision of a dog park a reality” said Councilmember Angela Whitfield Calloway.  “Thanks to our joint effort, we are ready to celebrate the grand opening on August 26 in honor of National Dog Day. I take pride in knowing our hard work will provide a space for our furry friends to exercise, socialize, and play. This new dog park will foster a sense of community among dog owners and promote better mental and physical health for both pets and their owners”. 

Additionally, community engagement will begin later this month for another addition to Palmer Park: the historic Bandshell, which previously hosted concerts at the former Michigan State Fairgrounds.  That project is being funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.   

Stay up to date on Palmer Park improvement projects and programming here.