Publication Date
10-21-2026
The City of Detroit’s population has decreased by roughly two-thirds since the 1950s, resulting in many areas with high vacancies. Within the park system, many parks and acres of parkland have little to no amenities and are classified by the city as “Community Open Space.” A partnership between the City of Detroit Landscape Design Unit (LDU), Detroit Bird Alliance (DBA, formerly Detroit Audubon), and the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (USFWS), along with other community organizations, is transforming underutilized park space into native meadows. This partnership allows for the strategic sharing of resources to reach the mutual goals of expanding wildlife habitat, increasing access to nature for city residents, and developing the City’s capacity to maintain natural areas.
Recommended Citation
Gmyrek, Kate
(2026)
"Detroit Bird City: Transforming Underutilized Open Space into Native Meadow Through a Cross-Sector Partnership,"
Cities and the Environment (CATE):
Vol. 13:
Iss.
1, Article 49.
DOI: 10.15365/1932-7048.1442
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol13/iss1/49
DOI
10.15365/1932-7048.1442