Greenfield Park

Found beside Interstate 75, the Greenfield Park neighborhood offers residents the opportunity to invest in their futures. Despite being only eight miles from downtown, the bedroom community isn't overcrowded and is filled with potential starter homes. Close to the Highland Park neighborhood, Greenfield Park has few eateries and no retail of its own, although both Meijer and Aldi markets are nearby. Getting around is less hectic, with multiple bus stops for various routes in the area and several major roadways bordering the neighborhood, such as Seven Mile Road and Oakland Avenue. It’s also close to the University of Detroit Mercy and DMC Sinai Grace Hospital and is home to Pingree Farms, a nonprofit focused on revitalization efforts through urban agriculture. Just 24 miles from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Greenfield Park is waiting for locals, both old and new, to rediscover its charms.

“You're right at the freeway, and it’s not far from downtown. So, it’s a central location, but it's not just a stopping-off point. It’s a tight neighborhood because a lot of people who live there were raised there,” says Veronica Todd, a 15-year realtor and owner of Veronica Todd Realty. “It’s more affordable than much of the Detroit area because the price of homes has been going up as people renovate homes around the city. Investors have purchased homes and rehabbed them, trying to make the area better, and that’s increasing home prices.” Many of the houses were built in the mid-1900s, and those that remain are lovely examples of how versatile ranch-style homes can be. Greenfield Park is also a great place to build, thanks to the amount of open space available. The streets are dotted with mature trees, and sidewalks make taking a stroll more pleasant. Buying a house here takes some planning and patience because there are never many on the market at any one time. Prices range from $155,000 to $165,000 for a three-bedroom ranch-style residence with a varying number of bathrooms.

Students attend classes in the Detroit Public Schools Community School District, one of Michigan's top 55 districts for athletes. Greenfield Union Elementary-Middle School and Pershing High are just one of several pathways children might take from prekindergarten to graduation. Greenfield Union teaches kindergarten through eighth grade and has earned a C-minus grade from Niche. The one-to-one technology facility provides every student with a laptop for research and classwork and interactive smart boards in each classroom. Pershing High has also received a C-minus from Niche. The nearly 100-year-old school operates the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program and has a recording studio built in conjunction with the JDilla Music Foundation.

Despite being called Greenfield Park, the neighborhood doesn’t have a green space of its own. Luckily though, residents can find nearby parks in almost any direction. Hawthorne Playground recently underwent renovations headed by KEO & Associates. The 1.6-acre pocket park had new grass and safety-coated fencing installed. There are also color-coated basketball courts, horseshoe pits and a gazebo. Traveling in the opposite direction, nearby Palmer Park is one of the largest green spaces in Detroit. Nearly 300 acres, the park has everything from a historic 1885 log cabin to a disc golf course. Locals enjoy hanging out on the shores of Lake Frances in the warmer months while children play in the large splash pad. And Palmer Park’s not just for humans, either. A large dog park occupies the area near Seven Mile Road, making this a one-stop shop for fun for the whole family.

Greenfield Park is home to Pingree Farms. This nonprofit works to revitalize areas through urban agriculture that turns vacant lots into community gardens. Founded in 2010, the group provides educational opportunities for youth and works with local 4-H clubs who visit the farm for activities like collecting eggs, shearing sheep and planting. Some 4-H members participate in a grapevine growing program designed to encourage children to consider careers in Michigan’s wine and grape industry. A Victory Garden program also encourages people from the neighborhood to be part of the harvest before taking produce home.

A revitalizing community near downtown Detroit, Greenfield Park allows residents to live near major roadways, green spaces, and public transportation.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Augusto Abreu

Video By

Alex Finneran