Could Growing Green make Detroit happier?

Detroit has bounced back by providing its residents greener spaces and communities. Outdoor enthusiasts have many options - including Grand Circus Park, and Detroit's Outdoor Adventure Center. Regardless, its economy is growing.

Ann Arbor is currently the #1 U.S. city for quality of life at 7.9. The city has invested heavily in parks such as the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, County Farm Park, and Bird Hills Nature Area. These parks feature natural beauty that promote health & fitness, wellness, and opportunities for education, small businesses, and personal growth on its college students, residents, and tourists of all ages.

Aubrey - a student at Washtenaw Community College pursuing a major in Business - says, "As a kid, spending a lot of time in parks is fantastic. I had a lot of core memories there, like local parks... Now I think it's a great way to step away from my work environments like going for a walk, usually parks are outside, nature, reconnecting... it's the nostalgia feeling - retouching those good memories as a kid."

According to CityBiz, "Since 2017, investments have been made to enhance the park’s infrastructure, including a major drainage improvement and resurfacing of the 1.3-mile loop, addressing long-standing accessibility challenges." Ryan Myers-Johnson, founder and director of Sidewalk Detroit, supports this: "This visioning session is an important moment for local residents to directly shape the park’s future, ensuring that it thrives as a hub for nature, art and community connection."