The Eliza Howell Park features more than two miles of scenic walking trails along the Rouge River, and is a wildlife haven. The park also has a vibrant arts and culture scene and is home to artist Patrick Dougherty’s ‘Stickwork’ sculpture. Photo credit: Lunar Haus.
Project Dates: Fall 2023–Spring 2025
Client: Sidewalk Detroit
SEAS Advisor: Lisa DuRussel, Assistant Professor of Practice, Landscape Architecture
SEAS Students: Emily Brent (MLA, Geospatial Data Sciences; Ecosystem Science & Management), Grace Carbeck (MLA, Ecosystem Science & Management), Myles Markey (MLA, Geospatial Data Sciences; Ecosystem Science & Management), Kammer Offenhauser (MLA, Geospatial Data Sciences; Ecosystem Science & Management)
About the Client
Sidewalk Detroit is a nonprofit organization with a mission to “advance public life and strong social infrastructure through the lens of arts, culture, collaborative design, and deep engagement with residents.” The organization’s past community initiatives have included neighborhood building, which combines residents' visions with artistic ideation and strategy to create engaging and welcoming spaces. Sidewalk strives to offer cultural programs and inclusive public art installations that improve the quality of life for residents across metro Detroit.
About the Project
This project team collaborated with Sidewalk Detroit and the City of Detroit to co-develop a detailed restoration and management plan for Eliza Howell Park, the City's third-largest park, which spans over 250 acres on the northwest side. Located in the Brightmoor neighborhood, Eliza Howell Park has been undergoing improvements since 2015 through community involvement and various enhancements, including the restoration of a vernal pond, the addition of benches, paths, and interpretive signage, and the installation of Patrick Dougherty’s Stickwork sculpture (pictured above).
The student effort combined community engagement, ecological expertise, GIS mapping, landscape design, and diversified data collection to develop a long-term ecological management plan and a comprehensive master plan for sustaining the park's most biodiverse areas. The students' deliverables are intended not only to benefit Eliza Howell Park, but also to serve as a replicable model for developing maintenance strategies across other Detroit parks.
Sidewalk’s ultimate goal is to transform the park into a welcoming intergenerational community space for Detroit residents, and our partnership aims to help shape Sidewalk's park-related projects in the future. The City of Detroit has already endorsed the organization’s Master Concept Plan. You can read more about the plan here.
Read the final report here.