You have probably noticed more construction going on at Palmer Park in the past few weeks. As part of planned City of Detroit park improvements, right now a brand new picnic shelter/pavilion is being built on the west side of Lake Frances.  Given the amount of questions we get about reserving the shelter next to the Splash Park every year, this beautiful new pavilion will surely be a popular place for families to gather with beautiful views of the Lake, the Log Cabin and the rest of the busy areas of the west stretch of the park. 

More projects in progress and planned to begin in the future:

• Volleyball Court to be rebuilt
• Baseball Diamond to be rebuilt in a new location when funds allow
• Power being pulled for more much needed lighting in the park
• Removal of the roadway that cuts through the middle of the park property near the cabin
• Removal of trees in a bad state and and effort to save the bigger healthier trees growing throughout the park
• Revitalization of Lake Frances (with National Fish & Wildlife Foundation grant funding). Begins Spring 2021

As one of seven projects selected to receive grant funding to benefit communities and wildlife habitats in southeast Michigan by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, People for Palmer Park and the City of Detroit will be working to make Lake Frances and Witherell Woods more healthy, usable, and beautiful. 
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These investments will strengthen regional resilience by installing green infrastructure, and reduce the threat of flooding and other intensifying environmental stressors. Additionally, projects will restore critical habitat for wildlife and create or enhance public access to and use of natural areas and parks across four counties. (1)

Over the next two years, we will clean up the Lake, replace invasive species with native plants, and improve walking and biking paths on the South end of the park.  We look forward to sharing more updates and getting your input throughout the project, but here's a preview of what you can expect to see happening in and around the lake. (2)