Eliza Howell Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Eliza Howell Park is a 250-acre park located in Detroit, Michigan.


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Summary

The park is popular among nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and families looking for a peaceful retreat from the busy city. One of the main reasons to visit the park is its diverse landscape, which includes wetlands, forests, and meadows. The park is also home to several species of birds, including woodpeckers, warblers, and black-capped chickadees.

One of the main points of interest in Eliza Howell Park is the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Gateway, which offers visitors a chance to learn about the local wildlife and conservation efforts in the area. Other notable points of interest in the park include the hiking trails, picnic areas, and playgrounds.

Interestingly, Eliza Howell Park was once a landfill before being transformed into a natural park. The park is also named after Eliza Howell, a prominent Detroit resident and philanthropist who donated land to the city for public use.

The best time to visit Eliza Howell Park is in the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most vibrant. However, the park is open year-round and offers different experiences throughout the seasons. In the winter, visitors can go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on the park's trails.

Overall, Eliza Howell Park is a beautiful and unique natural area in the heart of Detroit, offering visitors a chance to connect with nature and learn about the local environment.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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