 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2014) |
This is alist of trails and greenways in Detroit.
The trail types vary from natural surface singletrack to asphalt shared-use paths. In many cases, trail projects include on-road bike lanes and signed shared road routes.
TheDetroit Greenways Coalition is a group of stakeholders and city officials that meets monthly and promotes greenway development within the city. This Coalition has developed aDetroit Greenway Vision which calls for over 70 miles (110 km) of greenways throughoutDetroit.[1] That vision also includes bike lanes to bridge gaps between the greenways and to connect with neighborhoods. These bike lanes are a subset of the over 400 miles (640 km) of bike lanes proposed within the Detroit Non-Motorized Transportation Master Plan.[2]
TheConner Creek Greenway is located on Detroit's east side.[3] When completed, it will stretch nine miles (14 km) fromM-102 (8 Mile Road) south to theDetroit River, tracing the original Conner Creek. The greenway makes use of shared-use paths, bike lanes, and bike routes. It begins at Maheras Gentry Park (on the Detroit River), travels north past theDetroit City Airport, and up toEight Mile Road.
TheMilbank Greenway is also considered part of the Conner Creek Greenway. The Milbank Greenway provides a short connection betweenVan Dyke Avenue and Conner Avenue just north ofOuter Drive. The greenway uses an undeveloped road right-of-way and includes many gardens along its length.
The bike lanes along Van Dyke Avenue betweenEast Outer Drive and Eight Mile Road are part of the Conner Creek Greenway. Those bike lanes continue north into thecity of Warren.
This bicycling portion of theIron Belle Trail also uses the Conner Creek Greenway starting on St. Jean north of Kercheval Avenue.
TheCorktown/Mexicantown Greenlink is a network of nearly 20 miles (32 km) of bike lanes and 11 miles (18 km) of signed sign roadways. This network is throughout Detroit'sCorktown andMexicantown neighborhoods. The Greenlink connects with the Southwest Detroit Greenway using W. Vernor Highway. While this project was originally conceived and planned through theGreater Corktown Development Corporation, it is now a product of theSouthwest Detroit Business Association.
TheMichigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) added bike lanes toU.S. Highway 12 (US 12, Michigan Avenue) between Livernois and Rosa Parks Boulevard. Those were upgraded toprotected bike lanes and extended toCass Avenue. MDOT also built a pedestrian bridge overInterstate 75 (I-75) connecting Bagley Street. Though technically not part of the greenlink, the bike lanes and bridge provide additional connections to the greenlink network.
The Dequindre Cut is a below-grade pathway located on the east side of Detroit just west of St. Aubin Street. The trail is currently completed between theDetroit River Walk/Milliken State Park (at Atwater Street),Eastern Market, and Mack Avenue. One highlight of this greenway is its colorfulgraffiti.[4]
The Detroit River Walk is a5+1⁄2-mile (8.9 km) promenade along the Detroit International Riverfront running from theAmbassador Bridge toBelle Isle. Three miles (4.8 km) of river walk are now completed. The river walk connects many parks, includingHart Plaza,Chene Park, Mt. Elliot Park, and the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor. This greenway provides views ofWindsor, Ontario, as well as passingfreighters. Pavilions, fishing piers and benches are located at intervals along the path.[4]
TheLyndon Avenue Greenway is a1+1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) route in Detroit'sBrightmoor neighborhood and runs betweenEliza Howell Park and Stoepel Park. Besides connecting the two large area parks, the greenway also includes many pocket parks. This segment of Lyndon Avenue will have bike lanes added once the greenway is completed.[1]
TheMidtown Loop will be a two-mile (3.2 km) greenway trail that will follow existing street patterns, specifically following Kirby Street, John R Street, Canfield Street, and Cass Avenue with Warren Avenue serving as the central connector. The loop will be linked to greenway initiatives in surrounding areas, providing a key component of a larger greenway network linkingMidtown toEastern Market and theDequindre Cut. The Loop will also connect the campuses ofWayne State University and theDetroit Medical Center.[5]
Phase 1 of the project is completed along Kirby and John R. It was funded throughARRA. Phase 2 will be along Canfield and Cass. Additional construction will connect the Midtown Loop to the Dequindre Cut.
Significant public art is planned for the greenway. According to the University Cultural Center Association—the organization responsible for the Loop, "the public art component will elevate this greenway to the level of becoming a tourist attraction."[5]
Note that the Midtown Loop is designed primarily as a wide sidewalk and is therefore best suited for pedestrians or bicycling at modest speeds. Bicyclists traveling at higher speeds will likely prefer riding on the adjacent road.
TheSouthwest Detroit Greenway stretches from theM-85 (Fort Street) bascule bridge (over theRouge River, through the West Vernor Business District, to Clark Park. The greenway includes a shared-use path throughPatton Park and a signed bike route toDearborn's Lapeer Park, both of which are completed. This greenway connects with theCorktown/Mexicantown Greenlink on the east, theDetroit River Walk on the south, theClaytown-Michigan Avenue Greenway on the north, and theDownriver Delta Greenways on the west.[6]
A major portion of this greenway consists of the bike lanes along West Vernor Avenue. Streetscaping and wayfinding are planned for this West Vernor segment.
Nature trails are provided through the wet-mesic flatwoods on the island. These are enjoyed throughout the year. There are also bike lanes on the island's outer roads and on the MacArthur Bridge.[7]
The Lafayette Park and Elmwood neighborhoods include internal public parks which have paved paths. These paths connect the residential areas with surrounding streets.
Palmer Park has a paved shared-use path loop that begins at the pool area, goes through the center of the park, along 7 Mile Road and back along Merrill Plaisance. There are also unpaved foot trails through the forested areas which were recently reopened.
There are approximately six miles (9.7 km) of paved pathways throughRouge Park. In addition, theMichigan Mountain Biking Association andStudent Conservation Association have developed a hiking/mountain bikesingletrack trail.
TheDownriver Delta Greenways are conceptual non-motorized links within Detroit's 48217 communities. These links provide a key connection between theSouthwest Detroit Greenway, the Rouge Gateway Project,[8] and theDownriver Linked Greenway Initiative.[9]
The Gleaners Food Bank is currently studying the feasibility of building a greenway along the abandoned rail corridor just east of Beaufait from theDetroit River to Gratiot Avenue. This greenway would connect theDetroit River Walk, Capuchin Soup Kitchen/Earthworks, and the Gleaners Food Bank. This project has also been called the Gleaners Greenway and Beaufait Greenway.
TheJoe Louis Greenway (formerly called the Inner Circle Greenway) is a planned 27.5-mile (44.3 km) loop that circles the city of Detroit while connectingDearborn,Hamtramck, andHighland Park. The primary segment is a 7.5-mile (12.1 km) abandoned Conrail railroad corridor. The Joe Louis Greenway also uses other existing or planned greenways including theDequindre Cut,Southwest Detroit Greenway, andDetroit River Walk.[10][11]
Bridging Communities is currently leading efforts to develop aClaytown-Michigan Avenue Greenway Plan. This plan will provide the residents and stakeholders of Claytown community (north of Southwest Detroit) with a common design and future goal of improved beautification and non-motorized transportation.[12]
The New Center Council has developed a non-motorized transportation plan forNew Center which includes a proposedrail with trail. That trail, called theNew Center Greenway would be approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km) and would be located on unused portions of the railroad right-of-way running through the middle of New Center.[13]
TheGreater Riverfront Eastside Environmental Network (GREEN) is a non-motorized planning project led by the Villages Community Development Corporation. The GREEN project has identified a number of potential greenways which include shared-use paths andbicycle boulevards. The project also includes a proposed extension ofDetroit River Walk. This extension heads upstream from Gabriel Richard Park to Detroit's eastern border at Alter Road.[14]
In September 2006, Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) released plans for theDetroit Heritage River Water Trail, the first water trail planned for Southeast Michigan and the only one developed along a river designated by both Canada and the United States as a Heritage River. The Detroit Heritage River Water Trail is a river version of a greenway trail (or “blueway”) and will provide opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and small boat paddling.[15]Note that current city ordinances prohibit the launching of kayaks and canoes from Detroit city parks. The Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance and Riverside Kayaks are working with the city to remove this restriction.
.svg) | ||
Parks inmetropolitan Detroit | ||
|---|---|---|
| Detroit city |
|  |
| Metro 600 to 1,500 acres (243 to 607 ha) | ||
| 1,500 to 5,000 acres (607 to 2,023 ha) | ||
| over 5,000 acres (2,023 ha) | ||
| Waterways | ||
| Major beaches | ||
| Trails 5 to 36 miles (8 to 58 km) | ||
| Zoological and botanical | ||
