Trails in Detroit
Encyclopedia
This is a list of trails and greenways in Detroit, Michigan
.
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.
east side. When completed, it will stretch 9 miles from Eight Mile Road south to the Detroit River
, tracing the original Conner Creek. The Greenway makes use of shared-use paths and bike lanes. Three segments of the trail are completed: Detroit City Airport to Harper Avenue, St. Jean from Mack to Jefferson, and Clairpointe from Jefferson Avenue to Maheras Gentry Park (on the Detroit River.) Additional segments should be constructed in 2012.
The Milbank Greenway is also considered part of the Conner Creek Greenway. The Milbank Greenway provides a short connection between Van Dyke Avenue and Conner Avenue just north of Outer Drive
. The greenway uses an undeveloped road right-of-way and includes many gardens along its length.
Planning efforts are underway to continue the Conner Creek Greenway across Eight Mile and into the city of Warren
Construction was completed in 2011. Wayfinding and additional construction phases are being considered.
The Michigan Department of Transportation
(MDOT) added bike lanes to Michigan Avenue
between Livernois and Rosa Parks Boulevard. MDOT also built a pedestrian bridge over I-75 connecting Bagley Street. Though technically not part of the Greenlink, the bike lanes and bridge provide additional connections to the Greenlink network.
just west of St. Aubin Street. One mile of Cut is currently completed between the Detroit River Walk/Milliken State Park
(at Atwater Street) and Gratiot Avenue. The next phase of the Cut will extend the trail north to Mack Avenue with connections to Eastern Market
and the Midtown Loop Greenway. One highlight of this greenway is its colorful graffiti
.
to Belle Isle. Three miles of River Walk are now completed. The River Walk connects many parks, including Hart Plaza, Chene Park, Mt. Elliot Park, and the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor
. This greenway provides spectacular views of Windsor, Ontario
as well as passing freighters. Pavilions, fishing piers and benches are located at intervals along the path.
Brightmoor neighborhood
and runs between Eliza 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.
and the Dequindre Cut
. The Loop will also connect the campuses of Wayne State University
and the Detroit Medical Center
.
Phase 1 of the project is completed along Kirby and John R. It was funded through ARRA
. 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."
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.
Bascule Bridge (over the Rouge River
, through the West Vernor Business District, to Clark Park. The greenway includes a shared-use path through Patton Park
and a signed bike route to Dearborn's
Lapeer Park, both of which are completed. This greenway connects with the Corktown/Mexicantown Greenlink on the east, the Detroit River Walk on the south, the Claytown-Michigan Avenue Greenway on the north, and the Downriver Delta Greenways on the west.
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.
have developed a hiking/mountain bike singletrack trail.
48217 communities. These links provide a key connection between the Southwest Detroit Greenway, the Rouge Gateway Project, and the Downriver Linked Greenway Initiative.
to Gratiot Avenue. This greenway would connect the Detroit River Walk, Capuchin Soup Kitchen/Earthworks, and the Gleaners Food Bank. This project has also been called the Gleaners Greenway and Beaufait Greenway.
while connecting through Hamtramck
and Highland Park
. The primary segment is a 12-mile abandoned Conrail railroad corridor. The Inner Circle also uses other existing or planned greenways including the Dequindre Cut
, Hamtramck Trail, Southwest Detroit Greenway, and Detroit River Walk.
which includes a proposed rail with trail
. That trail, called the New Center Greenway would be approximately 1.6 miles and would be located on unused portions of the railroad right-of-way running through the middle of New Center.
. The project also includes a proposed extension of Detroit River Walk. This extension heads upstream from Gabriel Richard Park to Detroit's eastern border at Alter Road.
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.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
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.
Detroit Greenways Vision
The Detroit Greenways Coalition is a group of stakeholders and city officials that meets monthly and promotes greenway development within the city. This Coalition has developed a Detroit Greenway Vision which calls for over 70 miles of greenways throughout the city. 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 of bike lanes proposed within the Detroit Non-Motorized Transportation Master Plan.Conner Creek Greenway
The Conner Creek Greenway is located on Detroit'sDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
east side. When completed, it will stretch 9 miles from Eight Mile Road south to the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
, tracing the original Conner Creek. The Greenway makes use of shared-use paths and bike lanes. Three segments of the trail are completed: Detroit City Airport to Harper Avenue, St. Jean from Mack to Jefferson, and Clairpointe from Jefferson Avenue to Maheras Gentry Park (on the Detroit River.) Additional segments should be constructed in 2012.
The Milbank Greenway is also considered part of the Conner Creek Greenway. The Milbank Greenway provides a short connection between Van Dyke Avenue and Conner Avenue just north of Outer Drive
Outer Drive
Outer Drive is a bypass road which encircles both the eastern and western portions of the Metro Detroit area. It resembles a jagged horseshoe and was not originally intended to move traffic as much as to provide a pleasurable drive around Detroit. This drive would include travel through beautiful...
. The greenway uses an undeveloped road right-of-way and includes many gardens along its length.
Planning efforts are underway to continue the Conner Creek Greenway across Eight Mile and into the city of Warren
Warren, Michigan
Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census places the city's population at 134,056, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb....
Corktown/Mexicantown Greenlink
The Corktown/Mexicantown Greenlink is a planned network of nearly 20 miles of bike lanes and 11 miles of signed sign roadways. This network is throughout Detroit's Corktown and Mexicantown neighborhoods. The Greenlink connects with the Southwest Detroit Greenway using W. Vernor Highway. While this project was originally conceived and planned through the Greater Corktown Development Corporation, it is now a product of the Southwest Detroit Business Association.Construction was completed in 2011. Wayfinding and additional construction phases are being considered.
The Michigan Department of Transportation
Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
(MDOT) added bike lanes to Michigan Avenue
U.S. Route 12 in Michigan
US Highway 12 is a US Highway that runs from Aberdeen, Washington to Detroit, Michigan. In the US state of Michigan it runs for . Previous to the creation of Interstate Highways in Michigan, US 12 ran along Michigan Avenue between Kalamazoo and Detroit, a highway corridor now served by I-94...
between Livernois and Rosa Parks Boulevard. MDOT also built a pedestrian bridge over I-75 connecting Bagley Street. Though technically not part of the Greenlink, the bike lanes and bridge provide additional connections to the Greenlink network.
Dequindre Cut
The Dequindre Cut is a below-grade pathway located on the east side of Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
just west of St. Aubin Street. One mile of Cut is currently completed between the Detroit River Walk/Milliken State Park
William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor
The William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor is a state park in Michigan, and the state's first to be located in an urban area. Located just east of downtown Detroit along a portion of the city's International Riverfront, it covers on the Detroit River, and includes a 52-slip harbor of refuge...
(at Atwater Street) and Gratiot Avenue. The next phase of the Cut will extend the trail north to Mack Avenue with connections to Eastern Market
Eastern Market Historic District
Eastern Market is a historic commercial district in Detroit, Michigan. It is located approximately one mile northeast of the city's downtown and is bordered on the south by Gratiot Avenue, the north by Mack Avenue, the east by St. Aubin Street, and the west by the Chrysler Expressway...
and the Midtown Loop Greenway. One highlight of this greenway is its colorful graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
.
Detroit River Walk
The Detroit River Walk is a 5½-mile (8.8 km) promenade along the Detroit International Riverfront running from the Ambassador BridgeAmbassador Bridge
The Ambassador Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan, in the United States, with Windsor, Ontario, in Canada. It is the busiest international border crossing in North America in terms of trade volume: more than 25 percent of all merchandise trade between the United States...
to Belle Isle. Three miles of River Walk are now completed. The River Walk connects many parks, including Hart Plaza, Chene Park, Mt. Elliot Park, and the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor
William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor
The William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor is a state park in Michigan, and the state's first to be located in an urban area. Located just east of downtown Detroit along a portion of the city's International Riverfront, it covers on the Detroit River, and includes a 52-slip harbor of refuge...
. This greenway provides spectacular views of Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
as well as passing freighters. Pavilions, fishing piers and benches are located at intervals along the path.
Lyndon Avenue Greenway
The Lyndon Avenue Greenway is a 1½ mile route in Detroit'sDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
Brightmoor neighborhood
Brightmoor, Detroit
Brightmoor is a roughly neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan, near the northwest border of the city. Brightmoor is defined by the Brightmoor Alliance as being bordered by Puritan Road to the north, the CSX railway to the south, Evergreen Road to the east, and Telegraph Road to the west...
and runs between Eliza 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.
Midtown Loop Greenway
The Midtown Loop will be a 2-mile greenway trail that will follow exsiting 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 linking Midtown to Eastern MarketEastern Market Historic District
Eastern Market is a historic commercial district in Detroit, Michigan. It is located approximately one mile northeast of the city's downtown and is bordered on the south by Gratiot Avenue, the north by Mack Avenue, the east by St. Aubin Street, and the west by the Chrysler Expressway...
and the Dequindre Cut
Dequindre Cut
The Dequindre Cut is a below-grade pathway, formerly a Grand Trunk Western Railroad line, located on the east side of Detroit, Michigan just west of St. Aubin Street...
. The Loop will also connect the campuses of Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
and the Detroit Medical Center
Detroit Medical Center
The Detroit Medical Center, located in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, has more than 2,000 licensed beds, 3,000 affiliated physicians and over 12,000 employees. The DMC is the affiliated clinical research site for medical program at Wayne State University...
.
Phase 1 of the project is completed along Kirby and John R. It was funded through ARRA
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
. 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."
Note that the Midtown Loop is designed primarily as a wide sidewalk
Sidewalk
A sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
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.
Southwest Detroit Greenway
The Southwest Detroit Greenway stretches from the Fort StreetM-85 (Michigan highway)
M-85, also known as Fort Street or Fort Road for its entire length, is a state highway route in the U.S. state of Michigan.In Detroit proper, M-85 consists of West Fort street and South Fort street...
Bascule Bridge (over the Rouge River
River Rouge (Michigan)
The River Rouge, also known as the Rouge River, is a river in the Metro Detroit area of southeastern Michigan. It flows into the Detroit River at Zug Island, which is the boundary between the cities of River Rouge and Detroit....
, through the West Vernor Business District, to Clark Park. The greenway includes a shared-use path through Patton Park
Patton Park Detroit
Patton Park is a park located on the southwest side of Detroit, Michigan. The park, named for World War II legendary US military leader General George S. Patton, was dedicated in the early 1950s. Local landowner Jacques Bebe bequeathed the tract of land to the City of Detroit for a park...
and a signed bike route to Dearborn's
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
Lapeer Park, both of which are completed. This greenway connects with the Corktown/Mexicantown Greenlink on the east, the Detroit River Walk on the south, the Claytown-Michigan Avenue Greenway on the north, and the Downriver Delta Greenways on the west.
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.
Belle Isle
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.Lafayette Park and Elmwood trails
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
Palmer Park has a paved shared-use path loop that begins at the pool area, goes through the center of the park, along Seven Mile Road and back along Merrill Plaisance. There are also unpaved foot trails through the forested areas which were recently reopened.Rouge Park Trails
There are approximately 6 miles of paved pathways through Rouge Park. In addition, the Michigan Mountain Biking Association and Student Conservation AssociationStudent Conservation Association
The Student Conservation Association is a non-profit group in the United States whose mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of our environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land through service...
have developed a hiking/mountain bike singletrack trail.
Downriver Delta Greenways
The Downriver Delta Greenways are conceptual non-motorized links within Detroit'sDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
48217 communities. These links provide a key connection between the Southwest Detroit Greenway, the Rouge Gateway Project, and the Downriver Linked Greenway Initiative.
Belt Line Greenway
The Gleaners Food Bank is currently studying the feasibility of building a greenway along the abandoned rail corridor just east of Beaufait from the Detroit RiverDetroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
to Gratiot Avenue. This greenway would connect the Detroit River Walk, Capuchin Soup Kitchen/Earthworks, and the Gleaners Food Bank. This project has also been called the Gleaners Greenway and Beaufait Greenway.
Inner Circle Greenway
The Inner Circle Greenway is a planned 28-mile loop that circles the city of DetroitDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
while connecting through Hamtramck
Hamtramck, Michigan
Hamtramck is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 22,423. Hamtramck is surrounded by the city of Detroit except for a small portion of the western border that touches the similarly surrounded city of Highland Park...
and Highland Park
Highland Park, Michigan
- Geography :According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 16,746 people, 6,199 households, and 3,521 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,622.9 per square mile . There were 7,249...
. The primary segment is a 12-mile abandoned Conrail railroad corridor. The Inner Circle also uses other existing or planned greenways including the Dequindre Cut
Dequindre Cut
The Dequindre Cut is a below-grade pathway, formerly a Grand Trunk Western Railroad line, located on the east side of Detroit, Michigan just west of St. Aubin Street...
, Hamtramck Trail, Southwest Detroit Greenway, and Detroit River Walk.
Claytown-Michigan Avenue Greenway
Bridging Communities is currently leading efforts to develop a Claytown-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.New Center Greenway
The New Center Council has developed a non-motorized transportation plan for New CenterNew Center, Detroit
The New Center is a significant commercial and residential historic district located in Detroit, Michigan, adjacent to Midtown, one mile north of the Cultural Center, and approximately three miles north of Downtown...
which includes a proposed rail with trail
Rails with trails
Rails with trails are a small subset of rail trails in which a railway right-of-way remains in use by trains yet also has a parallel recreational trail. Hundreds of kilometers of RWTs exist in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Western Australia.- United States :In the United States the...
. That trail, called the New Center Greenway would be approximately 1.6 miles and would be located on unused portions of the railroad right-of-way running through the middle of New Center.
Villages GREEN Project
The Greater 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 and bicycle boulevardsBicycle boulevard
A bicycle boulevard is a low speed street which has been optimized for bicycle traffic. Bicycle boulevards discourage cut-through motor vehicle traffic but allow local motor vehicle traffic. They are designed to give priority to cyclists as through-going traffic...
. The project also includes a proposed extension of Detroit River Walk. This extension heads upstream from Gabriel Richard Park to Detroit's eastern border at Alter Road.
Detroit Heritage River Water Trail
In September 2006, Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) released plans for the Detroit 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.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.
External links
- City of Detroit Recreation Department
- Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance (MTGA)
- GreenWays Initiative: Planning for Detroit's Rail-Trails Prepared by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy