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Detroit Green Spaces

How to compost in Detroit—and why you should

Looking to reduce waste in 2020? Start by composting.

Detroit awarded $783K in grants to expand recycling to multifamily, commercial buildings

The new services are expected to roll out sometime in 2020.

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26 places to visit in Detroit this winter

Looking to explore the Motor City? Here are 26 places to visit, including parks, museums, and incredible architecture.

A decade of change on the Detroit River

The health of the river, and the ways people can experience it, improved greatly during the 2010s.

The latest updates on the Joe Louis Greenway as end of planning phase nears

Release of a framework plan and groundbreaking are expected to take place in 2020.

Preposterous ideas from Detroit’s past decade that actually came true

Who could have seen this coming in 2010?

Trends that defined Detroit in the 2010s

Emergency management, downtown’s revival, and scooters. Here are eight trends during a period of great change for Detroit.

Does solar energy have a future in Detroit?

Despite new state laws eliminating net metering, there’s many reasons to be excited about solar’s potential.

The Detroit Zoo will completely powered by renewable energy by 2021

The zoo is currently on a "Green Journey" to improve the health and sustainability of its facilities.

Atwater Beach on the East Riverfront to soon open to the public

The 3.2-acre portion of the RiverWalk will be open any day.

Why Detroit’s new Sustainability Action Agenda links climate action with quality of life

And why implementation will likely hinge on resident support.

Detroit commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2025

A new ordinance calls for total elimination of greenhouse gas emissions from city sources by 2050.

Check out this handy map to bikes and trails in Detroit

The Detroit Greenways Coalition guide has everything you need to know about biking in Detroit.

Third annual Detroit Kite Festival takes flight on July 14

This free event is a perfect summer activity for people of all ages.

Detroit releases plan to address city’s sustainability issues

The Sustainability Action Agenda has 43 action items, including expanding the city’s recycling program.

New skatepark opens at Riverside Park

The new skatepark will be the largest in the city.

Residents welcome new community rainscape garden in Chandler Park

The project aims to bring climate resilience, education, and job training to a once blighted lot.

Construction begins on Belle Isle garden by renowned landscape designer Piet Oudolf

The garden sits on a 2.5-acre site and has a fall 2020 completion date

Joseph Campau Greenway near riverfront breaks ground

The 1.2-mile non-motorized trail will connect pedestrians and cyclists from the Riverwalk to Vernor

Neighborhood group looks to build park to honor black Detroit veterans

The Buffalo Soldiers Memorial Park hopes to raise $50,000 by July 17

Wilson foundation provides $1.9 million in grants to connect trails in Detroit and Downriver

Funding includes $550,000 for the creation of a park at the Fort Street Bridge

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The greenest buildings in Detroit, mapped

From energy efficient temperature systems to stormwater infrastructure, these buildings have instituted all kinds of sustainable systems in their designs and practices.

Appreciating Detroit’s urban wildlife

Many wild animals call Detroit home—here’s how we should interact with them

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The best hiking trails in Metro Detroit, mapped

From shared pathways to short walks through wooded areas, here are some of the best hiking trails around metro Detroit.

With support of Green New Deal, Highland Park is officially on the cutting edge of green technology

The city has also been an incubator for innovative, sustainable projects

East Riverfront framework wins prestigious urban design award

The plan has received the AIA Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design.

Community meetings set for Joe Louis Greenway planning

Two community meetings are planned for Saturday, January 19 to learn more about the 31.5-mile Joe Louis Greenway.

Michigan State Parks will be free on Black Friday

Registration fees for Michigan State Parks, including Belle Isle, will be free on Friday, November 23.

West Riverfront Park lands $50M grant from Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation

The Ralph C. Wilson Foundation is gifting $50 million toward the new park, along with $50 million in trail development in southeast Michigan.

Handball courts make a comeback in Palmer Park

Once used to store manure, the courts have been revamped and are ready for their intended use.

Flower farms transform vacant lots on Detroit’s east side

The Garden Detroit has grown into multiple lots and a hoop house on vacant lots in Jefferson-Chalmers.

Atwater Beach officially breaks ground along Detroit’s East Riverfront

The East Riverfront beach will be completed by the end of next summer.

DNR, Grand Prix strike a deal to keep race on Belle Isle

The three-year deal keeps the three-day race on the island park. The set-up time is still lengthy in comparison to other races.

Cody Rouge, Warrendale planning efforts focused on child development

A nine-month engagement process between the city, community, and design firm Hector will lead to a child-centered development framework in the neighborhood.

Open Streets settles into Southwest Detroit for a third year

The family-friendly event comes back to Corktown and Southwest Detroit this October. Meanwhile, the Rouge Park event is rescheduled for August 11.

The DNR wants to keep the Grand Prix on Belle Isle

The DNR cites financial benefit as one of the reasons to keep the Grand Prix race in the state park.

Rouge Park to host Open Streets, 5K, outdoor movies [updated]

Kids games, food trucks, a fun run, and outdoor movies are all on tap this weekend in Detroit’s largest park.

Mollicone Park is reactivated in Indian Village

A group of neighbors worked with the city and surrounding community to reactivate this green space on the east side.

Where to host a picnic or outdoor event in Detroit

From Belle Isle to Palmer Park to Historic Fort Wayne, here’s where to host an outdoor event in the city.