Greenways Projects

THE GREENLINK IS HERE! 

The SDBA worked with several entities to complete the bicycle path alon West Vernor, connecting Southwest Detroit to Downtown and beyond.  Several bikers have already enjoyed the new path, and we welcome new users daily.  An opening reception is scheduled for May 3, 2012 to formally introduce the lanes to the community, thank its contributors, and learn bike/car safety practices.

Bike racks were installed along West Vernor to accomodate this new traffic looking for places to park their bikes as they patron to area businesses.  Special thanks to local artisan Tony Disenos who designed, created and installed the racks throughout Southwest Detroit.

The Vision
The vision of the Southwest Detroit/Dearborn Greenway is to connect people to the unique nature, recreational opportunities, and cultures of our communities.

Expanding and enhancing the natural landscape, utilizing existing parks, and connecting the neighborhoods back to the water provides residents and visitors of our urban neighborhoods much-needed recreational, open, and green spaces.  The Greenway will enhance residents' and visitors' access to the Latino and Middle Eastern communities and cultures that make this part of Southeastern Michigan one-of-a-kind.

The Greenway also connects people to the rich history of this area as "the neighborhood that built the car".   Finally, we see the Greenway as a key economic development tool for Southwest Detroit and Dearborn.  Parks and recreational opportunities are assets that attract and retain quality businesses, workers, and customers.  Investments attract investments, and our communities will continue to grow and prosper.

The Need
The neighborhoods of Southwest Detroit and southeast Dearborn, while vibrant and growing, do not have significant recreational, open, and green spaces.  Despite close proximity residents do not have public access to - and therefore a relationship to - the significant natural resources of the Detroit and Rouge rivers.

These residential communities have endured and more recently begun to grow, despite the pressures of the area's historically industrial and transportation uses.  Intense industrial and transportation uses, under-funded city parks, lack of access to the rivers, and a growing multi-cultural communities means more and more families are in need of greenways for access to recreational, natural, and cultural experiences.

Southwest Detroit/Dearborn Greenway
(click on the map to see the Southwest Detroit/Dearborn greenway plan; click "Back" on your browser to return to this page)

The Project
The Southwest Detroit/Dearborn Greenway have created a 10-foot wide path for pedestrian and bike use.  This greenway will also include trees and other local plantings along the route.  It begins in Patton Park in Detroit, and travels to Lapeer Park in Dearborn. A spur of the path will link the Salina school complex and then continue to Miller Road in Dearborn.  At Miller Road the Greenway will link with the newly opened $1 billion environmental restoration at the Ford Rouge manufacturing complex.

Ultimately, the Southwest Detroit/Dearborn Greenway will complete the perimeter of Patton Park, and also continue over to the Rouge River, connecting Southwest Detroit and Dearborn to the entire region's natural and recreational network.  It is also our goal to connect this system across Southwest Detroit to historic Fort Wayne, Clark Park, and the Detroit Riverfront.

The Partners

  • Southwest Detroit Business Association
  • City of Detroit
  • City of Dearborn
  • Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan - GreenWays Initiative
  • Wayne County
  • Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS)
  • Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision
  • Rouge River Gateway Partnership
  • Ford Motor Company
  • Hamilton Anderson Associates, Inc.
  • Environmental Consulting Technology
  • Friends of Patton Park
  • Local Businesses and residents

The Opportunities For Southwest Detroit And Dearborn

  • Creates natural links for safe pedestrian and non-motorized travel between the area's local parks, shopping opportunities, historical sites, and recreational facilities.
  • Increases the opportunity for exploration of the nationally significant sites located within the Automobile National Heritage Area.
  • Offers first-hand experience for our children to learn about local plants, animals, ecosystems, and environmental issues.
  • Provides greater access to the Latino and Middle Eastern communities of this area, and opportunities to connect with the rich cultural traditions and offerings.
  • Encourages outdoor physical activity for better health and well-being at all ages.
  • Enhances and restores the environment with native landscape plantings, habitat enhancement, and air and water quality improvements
  • A tangible demonstration of how significant community benefit is generated when neighboring communities work collaboratively on a common vision.

The Benefits Of Greenways

  • Greenways improve the value of adjacent properties, and subsequently improve the tax base of the community.
  • Greenways service a wider range of the population than most community facilities
  • Greenways create direct and indirect revenue sources from local tourism
  • Greenways exemplify the way in which communities manage natural resources, which matters to the business community
  • Greenways create opportunities for better access to outdoor facilities for low cost health management, and lowering health care costs is one of the leading concerns of American business

 Clich here for a map of the project

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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