Lakewood East Park
Friends of the Detroit River (FDR) received funds to build fish and wildlife habitat at Lakewood East Park and is seeking community input on the design through the remainder of 2026. If you would like to provide your input on this project, please attend a community meeting and/or fill out the project survey HERE before December 31, 2026 to be considered. If you cannot take the survey online, please contact us at (734) 288-3889 and we will work with you to get a paper copy.
Funding Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Start Date: July 2026
End Date: September 2030
Project Location: 14490 Riverside Blvd., Detroit, MI 48215
Lakewood East is part of the “Detroit Upper Riverfront Parks” which include AB Ford Park, Lakewood east, and Mariner Park. All three sites are located at the Detroit River’s starting point (or headwaters) and were once an extensive Great Lakes marsh, referred to as “Grand Marais” or “great marsh” on early maps. A marsh is a wet, grassy area that is home to many plants and animals. Since then, the marsh has been filled and the natural shoreline was replaced by seawalls.
Lakewood East is a beloved park owned and maintained by the City of Detroit, on the east side of Detroit, within the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood. The original proposed design was developed with community guidance in 2016 - 2018 to maintain and enhance the natural feel and habitat areas of the park that makes it so special for both humans and animals alike.
The project was originally led by the EPA as one of fourteen priority habitat projects to help improve the Detroit River’s loss of wetland habitat which is vital for local fish and wildlife populations. When efforts began in 2016, it was previously called the Upper Detroit Riverfront project as it originally called for habitat projects in Mariner and AB Ford Park along with Lakewood East. The park was planned for construction in 2019, but lack of funding stalled the project in 2018.
Timeline of activities for Lakewood East Park restoration dating back to 2016.
Community Open House:
Thursday, October 22, 2026 at Lakewood East Park* (14490 Riverside Blvd., Detroit, MI 48215) from 5:30-7:00pm. *If there is bad weather, open house will be moved to Community Center at A.B. Ford (100 Lenox St., Detroit, MI 48214)
Habitat Benefits
Every year, millions of fish travel through the Detroit River to find places to lay their eggs (also called spawning) and grow. Restoring wetlands along the river gives fish safe places to lay eggs and young fish a better chance to survive before they move to other parts of the Great Lakes. Healthy fish habitats can also help support more native Great Lakes Fish, like walleye and lake sturgeon.
Also, the Detroit River is an important stop for many birds as they travel and build nests. Better wildlife habitat gives birds, fish, frogs, toads, turtles, and pollinators more places to live, find food, and grow.
Habitat restoration can include removing invasive (non-native) plants, planting native plants, and adding tree tags to help people learn about local trees already growing in the area.
Originally Proposed Project scope*:
Restoration of ~300 linear feet of existing Detroit River shoreline
Improvements to ~1,000 linear feet of canal shoreline
Establish or enhance 16 acres of native vegetation for birds, wildlife and pollinators
Create approximately 3 acres of aquatic habitats including wetlands, shallow and deep-water habitats
*Your input may impact design, we encourage you to complete the survey by December 31, 2026.
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More Project Information
Archaeological Survey/Cultural Services Report