Greetings guests. Welcome to the wonderful City of Detroit! Staying on the pavement amongst the hustle and bustle while here is easy. Now that you have found a place to stay, you are wondering where you can go to get off the beaten path? Detroit may be known as the gritty home of automobile and manufacturing, however, there are wonderful green spaces throughout the city! Detroit's parks, paths, and beaches are beautiful. Where should you go?
Well, that depends on what you want to do. For starters, there’s Belle Isle Park, simply called Belle Isle. It is Detroit's 982-acre (1.534 sq mi) island developed in the late 19th century. It consists of Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit River as well as several surrounding islets. Owned by the city of Detroit, Belle Isle is managed as a state park by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Belle Isle Park is home to many family-friendly attractions. The Belle Isle Aquarium, the Belle Isle Conservatory, the Belle Isle Nature Center, the James Scott Memorial Fountain, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a municipal golf course, a half-mile (800 m) swimming beach, excellent kayaking and canoeing opportunities on Lake Okonoka and Blue Heron Lagoon, hiking on the Blue Heron Lagoon Trail and Detroit's numerous monuments and attractions
Next, there’s Rouge Park. Established in 1925, Rouge Park is Detroit’s (and Michigan’s) largest urban park with 1,184 acres (1.85 sq mi). It features four recreation areas, six miles of paved walking paths, pools, and a golf course offering many opportunities for recreation and leisure. Located on Detroit’s west side, Rouge Park is a great location for discovering and enjoying nature. It consists of 4.6 miles of the Rouge River winding through over 400 acres of forest, 60 acres of native prairie, and a five-acre marsh. Its natural areas offer many miles of hiking. You can enjoy the Scout Hollow Trail, Stonebridge Trail, Sorenson Promenade, a small but challenging mountain biking trail, and the Prairie Trail. Rouge Park also has a golf course, driving range, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, and a swimming pool.
Chandler Park is Detroit’s fourth largest park. It spans over 200 acres (.31 square miles). Located on Detroit’s eastside, this neighborhood jewel has a skate park, walking paths, and an aquatic facility that consists of a wave pool, water slides, a splash pad, and concession stand, as well as a golf course, basketball courts, and sports fields.
Riverside Park, is a 29-acre park located on Detroit's southwest riverfront, at the foot of West Grand Boulevard and west of the Ambassador Bridge. It includes a new softball diamond, soccer field, picnic shelter, playground, basketball court, the largest dog park in the city, and a 20,000-square-foot skate park. There is a picnic area, boat launch, ample parking, horseshoe, and table tennis game area, as well as a new Riverwalk. At this location, there has been extensive environmental remediation as Detroit continues to enhance its greenspaces and transform its landscape.
Mariner Park is a small green space located on Detroit’s east side on the riverfront. This park features a football/soccer area, a playground, and a fishing dock. Don’t let the small size fool you, the views are beautiful.
Maheras-Gentry Park, also known as Maheras-Gentry Playfield was initially conceived in the 1920s, and the first center was built in 1933. The park consists of over 50 acres (of green space. Within Maheras-Gentry you will find soccer and baseball fields, basketball courts, and sprawling biking and walking paths. This park also sits on the Detroit River with a fishing pond that flows in from the river, creating a small island that you can explore. If you (carefully) wander out onto the island's rocks, you get a beautiful view of Belle Isle, the Detroit River, and the city skyline.
Riverfront-Lakewood East Park is an obscure little island park located on the east side of Detroit, sitting on the Detroit River. This park covers an area of 24.7 acres. It has access to the canals and is a good place for a relaxing paddle. Reach out to Detroit Mobile Kayak to make arrangements for watercraft if you don’t have your own. Also located near Mariner Park, if you are in this area be sure to check out the restaurant Coriander Kitchen and Farm.
While in Detroit there are a couple more outdoor destinations that you must check out. First of which is the Detroit Riverwalk. Located along the Detroit River, enjoy the scenery and views along the award-winning three-and-a-half-mile pathway. Secondly the Dequindre Cut. This below-grade pathway, formerly a Grand Trunk Western Railroad line, is located on the east side (really a part of the Downtown hub) of Detroit, Michigan, just west of St. Aubin Street. Much of the Cut has been converted to a two-mile greenway, and the colorful graffiti has been left in place with artist murals added along the pathway.
I hope that you enjoy the time you spend in Detroit!!! Your Urban Naturalist.
We hope you enjoyed our article. Whatever reason you are searching for a Detroit loft, check out reliable vacation rental services. You can find Detroit nurse rental housing services, Detroit vacation rental services, and Downtown Detroit corporate housing online. When looking for a furnished Riverfront Loft in Detroit keep us in mind! Cheers!
