Last updated: October 2024
The Circle Forest project, led by Arboretum Detroit in partnership with Detroit Future City, is transforming a vacant lot the size of a football field in the Poletown East neighborhood into a green space. Once used as a dumping site, the area is being revitalized with 200 native trees, including oak, elderberry, white pine, and juniper. Supported by local groups like Detroit Audubon, Singing Tree, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the project aims to improve environmental quality and provide better access to nature for residents. Since 2019, over 120 trees have been planted, with plans to develop a native meadow. This initiative offers a space for recreation and reflection, benefiting the local community, including a nearby nursing home and rehabilitation center. Beyond ecological restoration, Circle Forest fosters connections to indigenous knowledge and respects the wisdom of the original stewards of the land. (Ref.1, 2)
Tour at Circle Forest
Jenny Sherman
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Promotion of cultural diversity
- Preservation of historic traditions
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Environmental and climate justice
- Sense of community and community engagement
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Deforestation and forest degradation
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of large parks and urban and peri-urban forests, Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Transformation of vacant land into green spaces, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Indigenous and community-based conservation initiatives, Educational and awareness raising programs, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Clearing out invasive alien species and allow natural regeneration maintaining the functionality the ecosystem
Project objectives
1.To transform a vacant lot in Poletown East into a vibrant green space by planting 200 native trees, restoring the land to a more natural state.
2.To restore native vegetation, remove invasive species, and foster a space of healing for community members through engagement with nature.
3.To promote intercultural competency by encouraging the community to learn about Indigenous Knowledge and the original uses of native plants.
4. To partner with local organizations and engage volunteers to support the restoration efforts.
5. To ensure the project is inclusive, providing accessible green space for all, including those with disabilities.
6. To enhance the quality of life in Poletown East by creating more green space and setting a model for sustainable urban development.
7. To establish a framework for the ongoing care and maintenance of Circle Forest, ensuring its long-term sustainability and community involvement.
(Ref.1,2)
Implementation activities
Implementation Activities:
1.Land Acquisition and Cleanup by Arboretum Detroit, a Non-Governmental Organization who:
- Acquired a vacant lot from the Detroit Land Bank Authority.
- Conducted thorough cleanup efforts, including the removal of debris and invasive species.
2.Tree Planting and Native Vegetation Restoration:
- Planted 120 native trees such as oak, elderberry, white pine, cedar, juniper, and tupelo.
- Reintroduced native plants to restore the natural ecosystem.
3.Volunteer Engagement:
- Mobilized local volunteers for tree planting and ongoing maintenance activities.
- Partnered with local organizations and community members for broader support.
(Ref.1,2,3)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Clear and control invasive alien species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: People with functional diversities
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Crowd-sourcing/Crowd-funding/Participatory budget
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Arboretum Detroit is the lead organization overseeing the Circle Forest project, responsible for planning, land acquisition, ecological restoration, and engaging the community. Detroit Future City plays a key role as a collaborator, focusing on improving green spaces and promoting sustainable urban development in Detroit.
Local residents contribute through volunteering for tree planting, land cleanup, and ongoing maintenance, fostering a sense of community ownership. Many also provide donations to support the project.
Detroit Audubon partners by offering expertise on local bird habitats and biodiversity, while the US Fish and Wildlife Service provides both a grant and guidance on native species restoration and maintaining ecological balance. Fungi Freights supports the initiative by introducing fungal networks to improve soil health and tree growth.
Additionally, the AARP Community Challenge awarded a grant for an ADA-compliant boardwalk. (Ref.2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation, Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Crowdfunding
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Donations
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Expected lowered local temperature
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Expected improved air quality
- Improved soil quality
- Achieved improved soil quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Achieved increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Achieved improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Expected enhanced support of pollination
- Restoration of derelict areas
- Achieved restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Achieved increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Achieved increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Promotion of cultural diversity
- Achieved promotion of cultural diversity
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Expected improvement in people’s connection to nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Green, R. C. (2022). Arboretum Detroit is building a forest and ‘green loop’ of nature spots in Poletown East. Detroit: Metro Times, Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Arboretum Detroit (n.d.). Circle Forest. [Source link];
3.
Kemp "Birch", A. (2021). Circle Forest is Happening. Detroit: Arboretum Detroit, Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Homes.com (n.d.). Poletown East. Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Drepaul, J. (2022). Circle Forest restoration clears a path for community growth in Detroit's Poletown East. Detroit: Model Media, Accessed on August 9, 2024,;
6.
Kelly, E. (2022). Tapping into people power to plant trees on vacant neighborhood land. Outlier Media, Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Miller, E. M. (2022). Big Plans: Five Detroit developments to watch in 2022. Detroit: Model Media, Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Arboretum Detroit (2024). Free Yoga at Circle Forest. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Sherman, J. (2023). Grassroots greenspace projects expand Detroit’s open space network. Detroit: Planet Detroit, Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link];
Jam Session
Garrett MacLean
Circle Forest Clean Up
Arboretum Detroit
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.