Eliza Howell Park facts for kids

Eliza Howell Park is a large public park in Brightmoor, a neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. It's one of the biggest parks in Detroit, covering about 250 acres. That's like a quarter of a square mile! The park is connected to Stoepel Park by a greenway. It also has a nature trail that's about 1.5 miles long, perfect for exploring.

Park History

The family of Eliza Howell, who was a real estate developer, gave 138 acres of land to the City of Detroit in 1936. The agreement from 1936 said that the city must always keep the land as a public park.

In 2009, the City of Detroit stopped mowing Eliza Howell Park and other parks. They did this to save money.

In 2010, Chazz Miller, a Detroit artist, started a project called "Papillion Effect." "Papillon" means "butterfly" in French. He and volunteers painted wooden butterflies. They placed some of these colorful butterflies along the nature trail at Eliza Howell Park. This project helped make the park look nicer.

Disagreement Over Park Use

In 2008, a family business related to Eliza Howell, led by Kenneth "Ken" Cheyne, started a legal challenge. Ken Cheyne is Eliza Howell's grandson. He said the city was not taking care of the park as the original agreement required. He believed the city had given up on the park. Because of this, he wanted the land to go back to his family.

City officials said that Eliza Howell Park was still open to everyone. Ken Cheyne had plans to build shops and homes on parts of the park. He said he wanted to keep 70% of the park as green space. But the city did not agree with his plans.

After a news report about the legal challenge, the city put concrete barriers around the park. By 2011, the city had won the legal challenge. Ken Cheyne said he would try to appeal the decision. In 2012, he was still trying to change the outcome. He felt the park was not being cared for properly.

What You Can Find in the Park

Eliza Howell Park has an American football field with goal posts. In 2009, some of the playground equipment was old and broken. The park has many wooded areas and open fields.

Because the city stopped mowing the park in 2009, nature has really taken over. Many people think this is a beautiful thing. It has become a natural area where plants and animals can thrive.

Plants and Animals

Visitors to Eliza Howell Park can often see many different animals. These include coyotes, deer, foxes, and various birds. You might spot blue herons or great horned owls.

The park is also home to special plants. You can find Indian pipe and trillium growing there. It's a great place to observe local wildlife and plants in their natural habitat.