Photo by City of Detroit, Dante Rionda
The City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Division (DPRD) is proud to unveil the completion of a $750,000 renovation project at Milan Park in Northwest Detroit, transforming the space into a vibrant community hub. Located near Ralph W. Emerson Elementary School, the park now with new amenities including a second playground, upgraded soccer fields, fitness equipment, picnic areas, and a refreshed entrance off Evergreen Road. Thanks to generous support from the Gilbert Family Foundation, the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, Project EverGreen, and the City of Detroit, Milan Park is set to become a dynamic space for recreation and connection, featuring 65 new trees and colorful sidewalk murals.
Original playground at Milan Park, photo by the City of Detroit, Dante Rionda
Before this project, Milan Park had a playground, a football field, picnic areas, horseshoe courts, and a walking path. In 2023, with funding from the City of Detroit, planners started talking to local residents, families of students from Emerson, and teachers to find out what they wanted to improve at Milan Park. The final design took everyone’s suggestions into account and turned them into a plan for a park that everyone can enjoy.
General Services Department Director, Crystal Perkins highlighted the importance of the City of Detroit’s investment in this beautiful park highlights the commitment to Detroiters having up to date and safe spaces to play outdoors.
“We hope families in the neighborhood as well as the Emerson School Community can enjoy all that this park now offers,”Perkins said.
Construction for this project started in early 2024. The plan includes many exciting updates: a brand-new playground, improvements to the soccer field, new goals for both soccer and football, pathways for walking, a softball field, as well as benches, picnic tables, BBQ grills, and outdoor fitness equipment.
There will also be a new entrance off Evergreen Road. The city has put aside $450,000 for this project and has received an extra $300,000 from Project EverGreen, a national nonprofit that focuses on improving parks and green spaces, along with support from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Gilbert Family Foundation.
Project EverGreen partnered with The Davey Tree Expert Co. to prune existing trees at the park to improve the health and beauty of the trees as well as funded and planted 35 trees in the park. The Greening of Detroit funded and planted a total of 93 trees in the area of the park; 30 trees in Milan Park, 59 trees at Emerson Elementary-Middle School along the border of Milan Park, and four trees in the neighborhood.
New fitness equipment, at Milan Park. Photo by City of Detroit, Dante Rionda
The City of Detroit, with the help of several generous sponsors, has renovated more than 200 parks since 2015. In the 2024 fiscal year, 44 parks received major renovations valued at $17 million.
Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen emphasized transformations like these aren’t achieved by one person or group alone, it takes a community effort.
“In Detroit, we’ve seen firsthand how well-maintained parks and recreation spaces can strengthen the social fabric of a community, offering a safe and welcoming environment for people to play, exercise, and connect with neighbors outdoors,” Code said.
Detroit City Walls and Space Lab Detroit commissioned three sidewalk murals across Milan Park. Miranda Kyle, the artist awarded the mural project, is part of the City Walls Blight Abatement Artist Residency Program (BAARP). BAARP Artists and projects are funded through City Walls’ funding. The community selected murals that incorporate lemon trees. Kyle is expected to complete the murals by the end of June.
Laura Grannemann, Executive Director, Gilbert Family Foundation highlighted the foundations’ contribution to the Milan Park improvements drives home the commitment to fostering vibrant, safe and inclusive spaces for Detroiters.
“Access to public space improves health outcomes and increases social connection for our communities, and we strive to support safe parks and green spaces within a ten-minute walk of every Detroit home,” Grannemann said.