Reimagining Wildlands at Eliza Howell Park

Abstract

Nestled in Detroit’s northwest corner Eliza Howell Park, the city’s third-largest park, spans over 250 acres of ecological and recreational space. The Park holds immense potential to accentuate ecological performance, connect humans to nature, and reduce park maintenance efforts. Over the past year and a half, , the City of Detroit, Sidewalk Detroit, and students from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability have collaborated to address park-related concerns. The interdisciplinary project team combined community engagement, ecological expertise, GIS mapping, design thinking, and dynamic coproduction to improve park understanding and management. This project has resulted in ecological management recommendations, including habitat restoration, low-impact mowing, passive maintenance, and invasive species mitigation. Documenting these methods ensures they can become replicable tools for both community organizations and the City of Detroit, potentially benefiting other parks. The University of Michigan team hopes these efforts will enhance Eliza Howell Park’s ecological resilience and accessibility for years to come.