• Former Rogell Golf Course, now a sprawling nature park, features paved trail, multiple boardwalks and overlooks
• $4-million-dollar project funded by American Rescue Plan Act and Strategic Neighborhood Fund through Invest Detroit, Huntington Bank and Flagstar Bank

The former Rogell Golf Course, which closed in early 2013, is now open as a 98-acre public park with a .83-mile paved path, four overlooks and multiple boardwalks.  Mayor Mary Sheffield, city officials, funding partners and community members today cut the ribbon at one of the new park’s scenic overlooks.

The city re-acquired the land in 2018 after a planned private development did not come to fruition and created a plan to use the land and its natural features for a sprawling new nature park.

“Healthy, vibrant cities offer exceptional greenspaces and outdoor recreational opportunities throughout their communities, and the beautiful new Rogell Park offers something new and special for residents in northwest Detroit,” said Mayor Mary Sheffield. “Not only will this new park promote resident quality of life and environmental health, it also will add to home values in surrounding neighborhoods.”

A portion of the new park’s pathway also will be part of the future Rouge River Greenway that will eventually connect to Eliza Howell and Rouge Parks.  The project also includes environmental remediation to address fertilizers and chemicals used in the maintenance of the former golf course.

The $4 million-renovation of Rogell Park was made possible with $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and half a million dollars from the Strategic Neighborhood Fund through Invest Detroit, Huntington Bank and Flagstar Bank.

"Through the Strategic Neighborhood Fund, Invest Detroit is proud to help transform Rogell Park from a closed golf course into a public nature park with stormwater management features that prevent flooding," said Jermaine Ruffin, senior vice president of neighborhoods for Invest Detroit. "This is the catalytic change the Fund was built to create, strong partnerships delivering vibrant public spaces and long-term opportunity for Detroit neighborhoods.”

This isn’t just about opening a park, but what it represents for the Grandmont and the Grand River Northwest neighborhoods. Spaces like this create opportunities for people to connect and for neighbors to feel a sense of pride and belonging,” said Mike Land, regional president of Huntington National Bank. The same sense of togetherness represents what made this moment possible, thank you to all the partners, leadership, other corporate sponsors and residents.”

"The revitalization of Rogell Park is a powerful testament to what bold, coordinated investment can achieve. Flagstar Bank is proud to stand alongside the City of Detroit, Invest Detroit, and our fellow partners in the Strategic Neighborhood Fund to help bring this vision to life,” said Steven Hernandez, CRA Compliance Specialist, Community Development, Flagstar Bank. “When a city and its partners commit to prioritizing the everyday experiences of residents — from safe green spaces to quality housing — the entire community moves forward. This is exactly the kind of long-term, meaningful work that Flagstar is committed to supporting in Detroit."

The initial vision for the once vacant golf course was established during the Grand River Northwest Neighborhood Framework Plan adopted in 2018. During the community engagement process, redeveloping Rogell Golf Course into a park became a clear priority. Special focus groups were created and in 2018 Rogell Park Master Plan was adopted. Residents’ feedback focused on passive recreation—walkways and views for visitors to take in wildlife, meadows and wetlands rather than more active sports and play. Lahser-Clarita Park, across the street from Rogell Park has basketball courts that were updated in 2023-2024 and in the next phase will have a new playground.

I remember 55 years ago in 1970 when I moved into this area and my first job was at this golf course,” said Darryl Edwards, president of Greater Sandhill Neighborhood Organization. “All the neighborhood associations and block clubs in the area got together as a community. There was nothing here to say what we didn’t want, we just said let’s sit down and talk about it. And we talked about it, the city came to us and asked what we wanted to see and we told them and they said it might not come quick but we’re going to fight to get there.”

The City of Detroit Public Works Department is working with Wayne County to advocate for a safer way for people to cross the street and go back and forth between Rogell and Lahser Clarita Parks.

Another 19 acres of the former golf course site will be redeveloped to include 304 new units of affordable, mixed-income housing and commercial space.  The $98 million project is being led by Detroit Blight Busters and Wallick Communities. 

History of Rogell Golf Course

Back in 1914, The Phoenix Club bought the property and opened a nine-hole golf course. It was later sold to the City of Redford and eventually the City of Detroit.  Then, in 1979, the course was renamed Rogell Golf Course, after Detroit Tigers player and long-time councilperson Bill Rogell. The property was sold to Greater Grace Temple and became the first Black-owned golf course in Michigan. The golf course renamed “The New Rogell”, shutdown in 2013. The City of Detroit purchased the golf course again in 2018.