Franklin Park

Colorful murals grace the faces of community buildings, and school spirit is plastered over garage doors in Franklin Park, a small section of the city on the west side of Detroit experiencing significant growth.

“Rouge Park draws a lot of people to this area. There’s always something going on there, and people are really excited about the new facilities coming to the park,” says Christine Stewart-Peele, a managing librarian at the Edison Branch of the Detroit Public Library. “The Edison Branch of the Detroit Public Library also has computers and offers programs for the entire family to enjoy, and the Detroit Lions sponsor the Boys and Girls Club located on Tireman.”

The streets of Franklin Park are lined with massive mature trees that glisten with snow in the winter, provide a bright display of blooming flowers in the spring, provide cooling shade during the warm summer months and colorfully fun foliage as the leaves turn from green to red, orange and yellow in the fall. Small stone porch stoops — some covered by metal awnings — sit at the entrance of homes in the area, while well-sculpted hedges accent manicured lawns. Cozy bungalows can be found around the neighborhood mixed in with larger colonial-style homes, featuring sturdy brick exteriors and large bay windows that allow for plenty of natural light from all angles. Other areas feature prominent Tudor Revival homes displaying silhouettes that resemble medieval castles and donning tower structures accented with ivy vines spread across the façade. Prices in the area top off around the higher end of the $100,000s, with a bulk of investment properties priced under $75,000.

Proximity to major highways like the Southfield Freeway and I-96 allows quick access to the rest of metro Detroit. It makes for a manageable morning commute and being on, especially when getting the kids to school. Being the home of the Motown Sound places a huge emphasis on music and fine arts in the city, and students can keep that legacy alive when they attend Edward “Duke” Ellington Conservatory of Music and Art and the Communications & Media Arts High School. Ranked the #3 high school in Wayne County, CMA has also been recognized as one of the nation’s best high schools by U.S. News & World Report. The school currently holds a Niche score of C.

Meijer is Michigan’s favorite grocery store, offering a wide range of items for your pantry and fridge. Fresh produce can be purchased from June to October at the D-Town Farm in Rouge Park, where an internship program teaches basic farming techniques, and food security is the focus. “There is also a farmers' market on Joy Road during the summer and fall,” says Stewart-Peele. Sugar Market adds to the grocery shopping options for Franklin Park residents, and conveniently located shopping centers allow for quick shopping stops at apparel and shoe stores like J-Bees and DTLR.

The largest urban park in the state at 1,184 acres, nearby Rouge Park is a one-stop shop for residents’ recreational endeavors. Kids can have a blast at the playground and splash pad outdoors when the weather allows, while nature buffs can take to the Prairie Pathway or the Stonebridge Nature Trail, totaling 2.2 miles. A 3-mile mountain bike trail also makes way for outdoor adventure. Sports courts make exercise easy with areas for football, basketball, soccer and tennis, and the park’s pools make a splash in the summertime, and nearly 5 miles of the Rouge River runs right through the park for those who like to relax by the water. A new addition to the park will soon make indoor recreation easier to find. With a $20 million donation from the Tom Gores Family Foundation, the Brennan Recreation Center will be a multi-use indoor facility set to open in 2024. The park also has an 18-hole golf course onsite for those looking to have a little tee time and practice their swing.

A local favorite in northern Franklin Park, Starter’s Bar & Grill is best known for its festive happy hours and the food and drink specials that come with them. Starter's gets the party started, serving everything from fun finger foods like wings and loaded potato skins to classic full entrées like pepper steak and rice and fettuccine alfredo. Olympia Coney Island is another local favorite, with a menu full of traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner diner dishes. For customer convenience, Olympia has dine-in and drive-thru options.

Written By

Kent Olden

Photography Contributed By

James Gordon

Video By

TJ Wengert