Visit
Designed in the late 1800s by Frederick Law Olmsted and Charles Eliot and donated by Thomas W. Palmer to the city of Detroit, Palmer Park links Detroit’s splendorous and philanthropic past to today’s need for public forest and green spaces in the city. The park is located in northwest Detroit bordered by impressive historic neighborhoods, the private Detroit Golf Club, and Art Deco Palmer Park apartments with Seven Mile to the north, McNichols to the south, and Woodward to the east.
Envisioned “for the good of everyone,” Palmer Park truly can provide something for everyone. The park is comprised of 296 acres of lawns and historic woodlands, a public golf course, tennis courts, outdoor pool, playgrounds, hiking and biking trails, Lake Frances, a historic log cabin, and the Detroit Mounted Police. Palmer Park combines history, beauty, and community. Click here to view a souvenir history book of Palmer Park online.
PFPP volunteers have started the process of revitalizing this fabulous park. We hope you will join us in helping transform this park into a special and welcoming destination for all. Click here to learn more about the twenty-five year master redevelopment plan to restore the park to its fullest potential and create self-sustainability.
Some organized events are planned for the summer and fall, and more are to come. Click here to view the calendar of events and Sign up for our Email Newsletter to receive emails about special events and programs at the park. If you are a facebook user, you can follow events through our People for Palmer Park facebook page. The park is also open for daily use. Take a frisbee, picnic, bike, or book to the park – we hope to see you soon!
We always need volunteers to help keep the park ready for use.
Click here to find out how to get involved.
PARK HOURS
Palmer Parks opens at 6 AM and closes at 10 PM, 365 days a year.
NATURE TRAILS
Discover the park’s ecology on year-round, multi-use nature trails. Enjoy birding, hiking, biking, and over 10 miles of winding trails in Detroit’s historic woodland forest.
Click below for Palmer Park Trail Maps.
Boundary Trail – 2.8 miles
Primary Trail – 2.5 miles
Mountain Bike Trail – 3.0 miles
Hiking Trails – 5.2 miles
SPORTS PROGRAMS
Palmer Park has many options for sports enthusiasts, and we hope to offer more as we continue to restore the park. Palmer Park offers baseball, tennis, golf, and basketball. For recreation activities, general information, and club reservations contact the Detroit Northwest Activities Center at (313) 628-0942.
CHILDREN’S TENNIS
Open to boys and girls ages 7-18 and sponsored by Detroit Parks and Recreation Department & Think Detroit PAL. Learn tennis fundamentals, concepts, game safety, and good sportsmanship.
For more info contact Think Detroit PAL at: (313) 833-1600.
Learn how to play tennis! Excellent instruction for young people 10 years of age and younger, a new program presented by the People for Palmer Park with support from the United States Tennis Association. This will be a ten week session beginning June 18, 2012 and ending August 20, 2012. Classes are held on Mondays from 6 – 7 PM (Rain Day: Tuesday, 6 – 7 PM)
Cost: $10.00 for entire ten week session. Rackets and balls will be provided. Tennis shoes are required.
Location: Palmer Park Tennis Courts – Woodward Avenue, between Six Mile and Seven Mile Roads. You must register and pay in advance.
Click here to download the registration form
Gatliff Outdoor Pool
In the past, the free outdoor pool has been open from June 15 through August 22, seven days a week. Unfortunately, the pool will not be open in 2012 due to maintenance problems.
GOLF COURSE
One of Palmer Park’s favorite attractions, the golf course is visited by many each year. Palmer Park Golf Course has a short 18-hole layout that is ideal for beginning and intermediate golfers. The course is straightforward with a challenging back nine. The golf course is mostly flat making it an easy walk, perfect for kids and seniors.
Palmer Park Golf Course
19013 Woodward Ave
Detroit, Michigan 48203
(313) 883-2525
DOGS IN THE PARK
Although there are no enclosed dog runs, Palmer Park is dog-friendly. The park has some basic rules governing dogs in the park. Dogs must be leashed at all times on a leash not to exceed six (6) feet in length and of sufficient strength to hold the dog in constant check. Tying animals by a leash which exceeds six (6) feet in length to any tree, shrub, structure, or other fixture is strictly forbidden.
DETROIT MOUNTED POLICE
The Detroit Mounted Police horse barn is located at 9000 Merrill Plaisance in Palmer Park, near the old recreation center. Call (313) 341-2279 between 2 and 4 PM for availability to visit horses or pick up manure to use in your garden (bring buckets or heavy duty garbage bags to transport manure).
