About the Park
Northwest Detroit’s hidden gem holds 250 acres of preserved land in the floodplain of the Rouge River and the fourth largest park in the city. Detroiters can explore Eliza Howell Park with over 2 miles of hiking trails. The park invites the discovery of a rich ecosystem of plants and animals from the vernal ponds, to the the wildflower prairie, to the hardwood forest canopy. It is a place for visitors to enjoy the serenity of nature in the midst of the surrounding urban environment.
Sidewalk Detroit was inspired by Eliza Howell Park because of its vast, beautiful landscape and direct connection to the Brightmoor neighborhood. As members of the community, we observed the park was under-utilized by our friends and neighbors. In 2015, we began our research with informal conversations with residents. This eventually led to one-on-one interviews with park leaders and a large community dinner, during which attendees shared their hopes, dreams and concerns for the park. After gaining a deeper understanding of the history and conditions of the space, we decided our goal must be to provide neighbors with new, joyful, and connected ways to engage in the park.
We are proud to be a part of the community effort to re-invigorate THIS PUBLIC NATURAL GEM as a valuable and experiential gathering place for Detroiters.
We knew that our work had to combine both infrastructure improvements and accessible programming. In 2017, we hired 10 residents to join our Community Leadership Team. These residents represented a diversity of backgrounds and were engaged to inform and guide our decisions as we moved deeper into programming and stewarding the park's development. Since 2017, we have been hosting free public intergenerational programming in the park as well as working to improve park amenities. Find out more about our programs and improvement by visiting the Eliza Howell Park website.
Eco-Artist Residency
Patrick Doughtery’s ‘Stickwork’ sculpture
In 2021, Sidewalk Detroit hosted internationally acclaimed artist, Patrick Dougherty, as he created one of his famed ‘stickwork’ sculptures in Eliza Howell Park. This artist residency engaged over 150 artists, volunteers, neighbors, and members of the public to work side by side with the artist as he created this monumental piece. Each aspect of the sculpture is hand-woven and composed entirely of natural materials. This art installation is a multi-year effort, part of our long-term work in the park. The vision for the park is to improve infrastructure, specifically focusing on stormwater management and restoration of the native ecosystem, while curating activities that facilitate a deeper connection to the park.
Patrick Dougherty Bio
Credit: Millard Berry
Born in Oklahoma in 1945, Dougherty was raised in North Carolina. He earned a B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina in 1967 and an M.A. in Hospital and Health Administration from the University of Iowa in 1969. Combining his carpentry skills with his love of nature, Patrick began to learn more about primitive techniques of building and to experiment with tree saplings as construction material. In 1982 his first work, Maple Body Wrap, was included in the North Carolina Biennial Artists’ Exhibition.
His work quickly evolved from single pieces on conventional pedestals to monumental scale environmental works, which required saplings by the truckloads. Over the last thirty-some years, he has built over 300 of these works, and become internationally acclaimed. His sculpture has been seen worldwide---from Scotland to Japan to Brussels, and all over the United States.
Visit Patrick Dougherty Website: http://www.stickwork.net/
Programs in the Park
ARTIST workshops
Past Workshops:
Lisa McCall, Iyawo Dance Theatre 2017
Ivy Mitchell, Zoe Fitness/Zumba with Ivy 2018
Amen-Ra Drummers and Dancers 2018, 2019
Kerrie Trahan, Yoganic Flow 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Kelvin Wyatt, Creative Movement Brazil 2019
Yvette Rock, Live Coal Gallery 2019, 2020
Sidewalk Detroit continuously selects local creative talent and artist groups to lead workshops in Eliza Howell Park. Through these programs, we are able to connect residents and park visitors with art in a serene natural space to improve the community’s mental and physical wellness and increase awareness of ourselves as part of the ecosystem here in Detroit.
performances
Since 2018, Sidewalk has hosted jazz nights, open singing, community yoga, and many other special events to celebrate the beautiful natural spaces in Eliza Howell Park. These outdoor events are intended to bring art and neighbors together to share in our connectedness.
Orange, gold & Green fall festival
Orange, Gold & Green is a celebration of what we think is the most beautiful time of year in our region. We gather together to enjoy performances, hands-on art workshops, horseback riding, campfire, food, and of course, the abundance of autumn colors.
