Trails in Detroit

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Bicycling on the Detroit RiverWalk Detroit River Walk.JPG
Bicycling on the Detroit RiverWalk

This is a list of trails and greenways in Detroit.

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.

Contents

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 (110 km) of greenways throughout Detroit. [1] 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 (640 km) of bike lanes proposed within the Detroit Non-Motorized Transportation Master Plan. [2]

Major trails

Conner Creek Greenway

The Conner Creek Greenway through the Conner Playfield Conner-creek.JPG
The Conner Creek Greenway through the Conner Playfield
Dequindre Trail and the Globe Building Dequindre Trail.JPG
Dequindre Trail and the Globe Building
Southwest Detroit Greenway in Patton Park Southwest Detroit Greenway.JPG
Southwest Detroit Greenway in Patton Park

The Conner Creek Greenway is located on Detroit's east side. [3] When completed, it will stretch nine miles (14 km) from M-102 (8 Mile Road) south to the Detroit River, tracing the original Conner Creek. The greenway makes use of shared-use paths, bike lanes, and bike routes. It begins at Maheras Gentry Park (on the Detroit River), travels north past the Detroit City Airport, and up to Eight Mile Road.

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.

The bike lanes along Van Dyke Avenue between East Outer Drive and Eight Mile Road are part of the Conner Creek Greenway. Those bike lanes continue north into the city of Warren.

This bicycling portion of the Iron Belle Trail also uses the Conner Creek Greenway starting on St. Jean north of Kercheval Avenue.

The Corktown/Mexicantown Greenlink is a network of nearly 20 miles (32 km) of bike lanes and 11 miles (18 km) 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.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) added bike lanes to U.S. Highway 12 (US 12, Michigan Avenue) between Livernois and Rosa Parks Boulevard. Those were upgraded to protected bike lanes and extended to Cass Avenue. MDOT also built a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 75 (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 just west of St. Aubin Street. The trail is currently completed between the Detroit River Walk/Milliken State Park (at Atwater Street), Eastern Market, and Mack Avenue. One highlight of this greenway is its colorful graffiti. [4]

Detroit River Walk

The Detroit River Walk is a 5+12-mile (8.9 km) promenade along the Detroit International Riverfront running from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle. Three miles (4.8 km) 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 views of Windsor, Ontario, as well as passing freighters. Pavilions, fishing piers and benches are located at intervals along the path. [4]

Lyndon Avenue Greenway

The Lyndon Avenue Greenway is a 1+12-mile (2.4 km) route in Detroit's 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. [1]

Midtown Loop Greenway

The Midtown Loop will be a two-mile (3.2 km) greenway trail that will follow existing 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 Market and the Dequindre Cut. The Loop will also connect the campuses of Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center. [5]

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." [5]

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.

Southwest Detroit Greenway

The Southwest Detroit Greenway stretches from the M-85 (Fort Street) 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. [6]

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.

Trails within city parks

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. [7]

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 7 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 six miles (9.7 km) of paved pathways through Rouge Park. In addition, the Michigan Mountain Biking Association and Student Conservation Association have developed a hiking/mountain bike singletrack trail.

Planned trail projects

Downriver Delta Greenways

The Downriver Delta Greenways are conceptual non-motorized links within Detroit's 48217 communities. These links provide a key connection between the Southwest Detroit Greenway, the Rouge Gateway Project, [8] and the Downriver Linked Greenway Initiative. [9]

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 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.

Joe Louis Greenway

The Joe Louis Greenway (formerly called the Inner Circle Greenway) is a planned 27.5-mile (44.3 km) loop that circles the city of Detroit while connecting Dearborn, Hamtramck, and Highland Park. The primary segment is a 7.5-mile (12.1 km) abandoned Conrail railroad corridor. The Joe Louis Greenway also uses other existing or planned greenways including the Dequindre Cut, Southwest Detroit Greenway, and Detroit River Walk. [10] [11]

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. [12]

New Center Greenway

The New Center Council has developed a non-motorized transportation plan for New Center which includes a proposed rail with trail. That trail, called the New Center Greenway would be approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km) and would be located on unused portions of the railroad right-of-way running through the middle of New Center. [13]

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 boulevards. 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. [14]

Water trails

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. [15] 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.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedar Lake Trail</span> Shared-use path in Minneapolis

Cedar Lake Trail is a 4.3-mile (6.9 km), shared-use path in the U.S. state of Minnesota, from downtown Minneapolis to the neighboring suburb of St. Louis Park. The trail begins at its eastern trailhead in downtown Minneapolis (44°59′11″N93°16′01″W) and continues west to Minnesota State Highway 100 in St. Louis Park (44°57′43″N93°20′36″W). At the trail's west end, a paved path continues for another 4.2 miles (6.8 km) through St. Louis Park to Hopkins under the former name of Hutchinson Spur Trail, but known as North Cedar Lake Regional Trail since 2009. In 2019, large portions of the Cedar Lake Trail were closed due to construction of the Southwest LRT extension with expected reopening in 2021 or 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midtown Greenway</span> Shared-use path in Minneapolis, USA

The Midtown Greenway is a 5.7-mile (9.2 km) rail trail in Minneapolis, Minnesota that follows the path of an abandoned route of the Milwaukee Road railway. It is considered under segregated cycle facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenway (landscape)</span> Shared-use path or linear park with vegetation

A greenway is usually a shared-use path along a strip of undeveloped land, in an urban or rural area, set aside for recreational use or environmental protection. Greenways are frequently created out of disused railways, canal towpaths, utility company rights of way, or derelict industrial land. Greenways can also be linear parks, and can serve as wildlife corridors. The path's surface may be paved and often serves multiple users: walkers, runners, bicyclists, skaters and hikers. A characteristic of greenways, as defined by the European Greenways Association, is "ease of passage": that is that they have "either low or zero gradient", so that they can be used by all "types of users, including mobility impaired people".

City of Parks is a municipal project to create a continuous paved pedestrian and biking trail around the city of Louisville, Kentucky while also adding a large amount of park land. The project was announced on February 22, 2005. Current plans call for making approximately 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of the Floyds Fork floodplain in eastern Jefferson County into park space, expanding area in the Jefferson Memorial Forest, and adding riverfront land and wharfs along the Riverwalk Trail and Levee Trail. There are also plans to connect the 100-mile (160 km) Louisville trail to a planned seven mile (11 km) trail connecting the Southern Indiana cities of New Albany, Clarksville and Jeffersonville.

Windsor's Department of Parks and Recreation maintains 3,000 acres (12 km2) of green space, 180 parks, 40 miles (64 km) of trails, 22 miles (35 km) of sidewalk, 60 parking lots, vacant lands, natural areas and forest cover within the City of Windsor, as well as the Bike Trails, Bike Lanes, and Bike-Friendly Streets.

The Ganatchio Trail is the second bike trail built in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Construction on the trail started upon the closure of Clairview Avenue. The trail extends over 5.3 km, and passes through several neighbourhoods, including Riverside and Little River, and serves Sandpoint Beach and Stop 26 Beach and Park. It was the second major trail constructed, after the Riverfront Bike Trail, with extensions east towards Tecumseh built in stages. The trail has a posted speed limit of 20 km/h. The Riverfront and the Ganatchio Trails are wide enough for two cycle lanes in each direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverfront Bike Trail</span>

The Roy A. Battagello River Walk Bike Trail is the current backbone of the "Windsor Loop" bike trail network in Windsor, Ontario. The bike trail travels from the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, to traffic lights at Riverside Drive and Lincoln Avenue. This makes the trail the second-longest trail in the City of Windsor, at 8.0 km.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manhattan Waterfront Greenway</span> Esplanade in Manhattan, New York

The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway is a waterfront greenway for walking or cycling, 32 miles (51 km) long, around the island of Manhattan, in New York City. The largest portions are operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. It is separated from motor traffic, and many sections also separate pedestrians from cyclists. There are three principal parts — the East, Harlem and Hudson River Greenways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linear park</span> Long strip of naturally occurring land for recreation

A linear park is a type of park that is significantly longer than it is wide. These linear parks are strips of public land running along canals, rivers, streams, defensive walls, electrical lines, or highways and shorelines. Examples of linear parks include everything from wildlife corridors to riverways to trails, capturing the broadest sense of the word. Other examples include rail trails, which are disused railroad beds converted for recreational use by removing existing structures. Commonly, these linear parks result from the public and private sectors acting on the dense urban need for open green space. Linear parks stretch through urban areas, coming through as a solution for the lack of space and need for urban greenery. They also effectively connect different neighborhoods in dense urban areas as a result, and create places that are ideal for activities such as jogging or walking. Linear parks may also be categorized as greenways. In Australia, a linear park along the coast is known as a foreshoreway. When being designed, linear parks appear unique as they are planned around the public's opinion of how the space will affect them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit International Riverfront</span> Area of Detroit, Michigan that borders the Detroit River

The Detroit International Riverfront is a tourist attraction and landmark of Detroit, Michigan, extending from the Ambassador Bridge in the west to Belle Isle in the east, for a total of 5.5 miles. The International Riverfront encompasses a cruise ship passenger terminal and dock, a marina, a multitude of parks, restaurants, retail shops, skyscrapers, and high rise residential areas along with Huntington Place. The Marriott at the Renaissance Center and the Robert's Riverwalk Hotel are also situated along the International Riverfront. Private companies and foundations together with the city, state, and federal government have contributed several hundred million dollars toward the riverfront development. Key public spaces in the International Riverfront, such as the RiverWalk, Dequindre Cut Greenway and Trail, William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, and a cruise ship passenger terminal and dock at Hart Plaza complement the architecture of the area. The area provides a venue for a variety of annual events and festivals including the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, Detroit Free Press International Marathon, the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Motor City Pride, the North American International Auto Show, River Days and Detroit China Festival. In February 2021, the Detroit International Riverfront was voted best riverwalk in the United States by USA Today readers. It was selected a second time as the best riverwalk in the U.S. in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dequindre Cut</span>

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. Much of the Cut has been converted to a greenway; the colorful graffiti along the pathway has been left in place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in metropolitan Detroit</span>

Transportation in metropolitan Detroit comprises an expansive system of roadways, multiple public transit systems, a major international airport, freight railroads, and ports. Located on the Detroit River along the Great Lakes Waterway, Detroit is a significant city in international trade, with two land crossings to Canada. Three primary Interstate highways serve the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cycling in Detroit</span>

Detroit is a popular city for cycling. It is flat with an extensive road network with a number of recreational and competitive opportunities and is, according to cycling advocate David Byrne, one of the top eight biking cities in the world. The city has invested in greenways and bike lanes and other bicycle-friendly infrastructure. Bike rental is available from the riverfront and tours of the city's architecture can be booked.

Patton Park is a 93-acre (38 ha) park located on the southwest side of Detroit, Michigan. The park, named for the World War II US military leader General George S. Patton, was dedicated in the early 1950s. Local landowner Jacques Baby bequeathed the 93-acre (38 ha) tract of land to the City of Detroit for a park. The park retains a restrictive covenant that prohibits the City from tampering with the park, lest the park returns to Baby's descendants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jones Falls Trail</span> Hiking and bicycling trail in Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Jones Falls Trail is a hiking and bicycling trail in Baltimore, Maryland. It mostly runs along the length of the namesake Jones Falls, a major north–south stream in and north of the city that has long acted as a major transportation corridor for the city. It also incorporates the bike path encircling Druid Hill Reservoir and its namesake park. The Jones Falls Trail forms a segment of the East Coast Greenway, a partially completed network of off-road bicycling routes that runs the length of the East Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicycle highway</span> Direct long-distance separated cycle path for utility cycling, without big intersections or detours.

A bicycle highway, also known as a cycling superhighway, fast cycle route or bike freeway, is an informal name for a bicycle path that is meant for long-distance traffic. There is no official definition of a bicycle highway. The characteristics of a cycle motorway mentioned by authorities and traffic experts include an absence of single-level intersections with motorized traffic, a better road surface and the absence of traffic lights. Bicycle highways are mentioned in connection with traffic jam. Owing to higher average speeds than normal cycling infrastructure, they provide an alternative to the car in commuter traffic. Often a cycle motorway follows the route of a railway or other linear infrastructure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiawatha LRT Trail</span> Shared-use path in Minneapolis

Hiawatha LRT Trail is a 4.7-mile (7.6 km), multi-use path adjacent to a light-rail transit line in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, that is popular with bicycle commuters. Users travel along the Metro Blue Line and Hiawatha Avenue transit corridor, reaching downtown Minneapolis near an indoor sports stadium at the trail’s northern end, and reaching a bridge above Minnehaha Creek at the trail’s southern end. Hiawatha LRT Trail provides a vital link between several Minneapolis neighborhoods and the city’s downtown area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trails in Minneapolis</span>

Minneapolis is often considered one of the top biking and walking cities in the United States due to its vast network of trails and dedicated pedestrian areas. In 2020, Walk Score rated Minneapolis as 13th highest among cities over 200,000 people. Some bicycling ratings list Minneapolis at the top of all United States cities, while others list Minneapolis in the top ten. There are over 80 miles (130 km) of paved, protected pathways in Minneapolis for use as transportation and recreation. The city's Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway parkway system accounts for the vast majority of the city's shared-use paths at approximately 50 miles (80 km) of dedicated biking and walking areas. By 2008, other city, county, and park board areas accounted for approximately 30 miles (48 km) of additional trails, for a city-wide total of approximately 80 miles (130 km) of protected pathways. The network of shared biking and walking paths continued to grow into the late 2010s with the additions of the Hiawatha LRT Trail gap remediation, Min Hi Line pilot projects, and Samatar Crossing. The city also features several natural-surface hiking trails, mountain-biking paths, groomed cross-country ski trails in winter, and other pedestrian walkways.

References

  1. 1 2 "Detroit Trails". Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance. Archived from the original on 2010-10-05.
  2. "Detroit Non-Motorized Master Plan". Giffels-Webster Engineering. Archived from the original on 2008-10-11.
  3. "Conner Creek Greenway". Detroit Eastside Community Collaborative.
  4. 1 2 "Detroit Riverfront Conservancy".
  5. 1 2 "Midtown Loop". University Cultural Center Association (UCCA).
  6. "Southwest Detroit Business Association".
  7. "Friends of Belle Isle".
  8. "Rouge Gateway Project". Rouge River Gateway Partnership.
  9. "Downriver Linked Greenways Initiative".
  10. Detroit Greenways Coalition
  11. About Detroit Greenways
  12. "Bridging Communities".
  13. "New Center Council".
  14. "Planning for Greenways". Villages CDC.
  15. "Detroit Heritage River Water Trail". Metropolitan Affairs Coalition.