Last updated: October 2024
The Upper Detroit Riverfront Habitat and Parks Restoration Project aims to restore and enhance vital fish and wildlife habitats along the Detroit River. This initiative seeks to rehabilitate approximately 30 acres of upland and shoreline habitats within Riverfront-Lakewood East Park, A.B. Ford Park, and Mariners Park (all located alongside the river), covering nearly one mile of the Detroit River and its shorelines. Key outcomes include improving approximately 1,000 linear feet of existing shoreline along the Detroit River by incorporating native wetland edges and fish spawning shelves into the restoration efforts. The project also plans to enhance around 2,000 linear feet of canal shoreline and 800 linear feet along Fox Creek to create or improve habitats for fish and herpetological species. In Riverfront-Lakewood East Park, 28 acres are targeted for the establishment or enhancement of native vegetation to support birds, mammals, and pollinators. If feasible, the creation of about 7 acres of wetlands, along with shallow and deep-water habitats, is also part of the vision. The project is guided by the City of Detroit's 2017 Parks and Recreation Improvement Plan and represents part of a broader strategy to revitalize the city’s green spaces after years of underfunding. With renewed commitment, the city has allocated nearly $12 million to enhance neighborhood parks, particularly in areas that have lacked investment over the past decade. However, the project was temporarily halted in 2020 due to high water levels causing flooding in the adjacent neighborhood. As of 2024, it remains on hold while the City of Detroit conducts a flood mitigation study. Despite this delay, the project remains a critical step toward fostering community stewardship and creating sustainable green spaces that improve the quality of life for all Detroit residents. (Ref. 1, 4, 5)
Engineering and Ecological Assessment Activities
EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC.
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
- Social interaction
- Sense of community and community engagement
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Disconnection from nature
- Poor community engagement
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Creation of artificial wetlands, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, River rehabilitation/ restoration, Upper watershed restoration and management, Restoration of riparian vegetation, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality, Restoration of wetlands (other types than peatlands and mangroves, e.g. seagrass), Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems), Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Habitat mapping, restoration and monitoring-focused management
Project objectives
To restore and enhance approximately 30 acres of degraded upland and shoreline habitats, wetland creation in Riverfront-Lakewood East Park, A.B. Ford Park, and Mariners Park, addressing the loss of fish and wildlife habitat in the Detroit River Area of Concern (AOC).
To introduce native wetland edge and fish spawning shelves, establish or enhance native vegetation ((native grasses, bushes, shrubs) within the 28 acres of Riverfront-Lakewood East Park for birds, mammals, and pollinator species.
To foster a sense of community stewardship by involving local residents and stakeholders in the planning and implementation process, ensuring that park improvements reflect community needs and priorities.
To create inviting, accessible public spaces that provide recreational opportunities and promote the health benefits of open green space for all Detroiters.
To align the restoration efforts with the City of Detroit's broader 2017 Parks and Recreation Improvement Plan
To support the revitalization of neighborhood parks that have suffered from years of underinvestment, ensuring equitable distribution of resources across Detroit's diverse communities. (Ref. 1, 2)
Implementation activities
EA Engineering conducted a resource inventory and assessment of Alfred Brush Ford, Riverfront-Lakewood East, and Mariner Parks. The engineering assessment took place in June 2017 and included a topographic survey, bathymetric survey, utility location, shoreline and structural survey, sediment sampling, soil sampling, and geotechnical soil sampling.
The ecological assessment, also conducted in June 2017, involved habitat area delineation and characterization, wetlands and stream delineation, and a stream assessment that included a macroinvertebrate survey. This survey assessed the aquatic habitat, fish community, and benthic macroinvertebrates, such as clams and mussels. A herpetological survey was performed to document reptiles and amphibians in the area.
To gather input on the project from community members and share information about the current process, two community open house events were organized by The Upper Detroit Riverfront Parks Habitat Restoration (UDRP) project in 2017 and 2018. These events featured presentations from project partners, including the City of Detroit, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EA Engineering, and staff from the National Park Service-Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (NPS-RTCA).
The project was put on temporary hold in 2020 due to high water levels causing flooding issues in the adjacent neighborhood. As of 2024, it remains on hold while a flood mitigation study is being conducted by the City of Detroit. (Ref.2-5)
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Riverfront communities
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore native species
- Restore ecological connectivity
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Regional government
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Co-management/Joint management
- Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Environmental Protection Agency is leading the project through its Great Lakes National Program Office and coordinating efforts with the Detroit Federal Working Group. The City of Detroit's General Services and Parks and Recreation Departments serve as key local stakeholders focused on revitalizing parks under the 2017 Parks and Recreation Improvement Plan. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality prioritizes this project within the Detroit River Area of Concern. Additionally, the National Park Service supports the initiative through its Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program.
Friends of the Detroit River (NGO activist group) play a role in grassroots advocacy, while EA Engineering provides environmental analysis and design expertise. Residents are actively involved in the project’s design, implementation, and future stewardship. Funding comes from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (EPA). (Ref. 7)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a national strategy to target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem (Ref.9))
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The 2017 Parks and Recreation Improvement Plan (Ref.8) and the Detroit River Remedial Action Plan, a cleanup plan for restoring the environmental quality of an Area of Concern (AOC) such as the Detroit River. (Ref.11).)
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public national budget
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
No
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Expected increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased number of species present
- Expected increased number of species present
- Increased presence and recovery of wild species
- Expected increased presence and recovery of wild species
- Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
- Expected increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Expected improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Expected improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Expected increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Expected increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Expected improvement in people’s connection to nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
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.
City of Detroit - Upper detroit riverfront Parks habitat restoration project Team (n.d.). Upper detroit riverfront Parks habitat restoration project. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
2.
City of Detroit - Upper detroit riverfront Parks habitat restoration project Team (2018). Open Houses - Upper detroit riverfront Parks habitat restoration project. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
3.
City of Detroit - Upper detroit riverfront Parks habitat restoration project Team (2018). Upper Detroit Riverfront Parks Habitat Restoration Design. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Bohling, M. (2020). Cleaning up the Detroit River. Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan State University Extension, Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
5.
DETROIT RIVER AREA OF CONCERN PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE (2024). DETROIT RIVER RAP PUBLIC ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
6.
City of Detroit (2019). Jefferson Chalmers Neighborhood Framework Planning and Development Department. p. 17-18 Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
7.
City of Detroit - Upper detroit riverfront Parks habitat restoration project Team (n.d.). Project Partners - Upper detroit riverfront Parks habitat restoration project. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
8.
CITY OF DETROIT GENERAL SERVICES AND DETROIT RECREATION DEPARTMENTS (2017). 2017 PARKS AND RECREATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN. Detroit City Council, Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (n.d.). Great Lakes Restoration at Work. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
10.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.). Remediation and Restoration Projects for Detroit River AOC. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
11.
Burns, B., Lovall, S. (2019). U.S. Habitat Restoration Under the Detroit River Remedial Action Plan. Friends of the Detroit River, Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
Stream Assessment & Macroinvertebrate/Fish Survey
EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC.
Wetland Delineation
EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC.
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.