Project EverGreen, in partnership with the City of Detroit, the Gilbert Family Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, proudly announces the completion of a transformative revitalization of Milan Park in Detroit’s Evergreen Outer Drive neighborhood. The official ribbon cutting took place on April 3.
The reimagined park, located near Ralph W. Emerson Elementary-Middle School, has been a central gathering space for neighborhood families for decades. Thanks to a collaborative, community-driven planning effort, Milan Park now offers a safe, accessible, and environmentally impactful space for residents of all ages.
Key enhancements include:
- 60 newly planted or rehomed trees
- A second playground and renovated natural grass soccer field
- New combination soccer/football goals and a new softball field
- Improved walkways, fitness equipment, picnic tables, and BBQ grills
- A new park entrance off Evergreen Road
- Sidewalk murals by local artist Miranda Kyle
“Milan Park’s transformation is a testament to what happens when communities, nonprofits, and local government come together,” said Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “This space is now a thriving green hub where residents can connect, play, and breathe cleaner air.”
The park’s turf and trees are projected to sequester over 351,000 pounds of carbon annually and generate more than 530,000 cubic yards of clean air, the environmental equivalent of removing 45 cars from the road each year.
The $750,000 revitalization effort included a $450,000 investment from the City of Detroit and $300,000 in contributions from the Gilbert Family Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Construction was led by Premiere Group Associates, with support from Davey Tree, RE-TREE, Advanced Turf Solutions, and The Greening of Detroit.
The creative spirit of the neighborhood also shines through in three commissioned sidewalk murals featuring lemon trees, a symbol chosen by the community.
“The City of Detroit’s investment in this beautiful park highlights our commitment to providing up-to-date and safe outdoor spaces,” said Crystal Perkins, Director of the General Services Department. “We’re proud to offer a park the entire community can enjoy.”
This is Project EverGreen’s fifth GreenCare for Communities project in Detroit since 2017. Project EverGreen and its partners are actively planning additional park improvement projects in the city for 2025 and beyond.
