North Rosedale Park

History, pride and a sense of community are wrapped up in the residents of North Rosedale Park, a well-sought-after neighborhood in Detroit. Whether planning social gatherings with surrounding communities or making their voices heard on issues that impact the area, the people who live in North Rosedale Park are quick to tell you why they love calling it home.

“There’s a convenience of living in a community where you can walk to go shopping and find everything you need versus many of the suburbs, where you have to drive,” says Harrison R. Duke, a local community activist and 30-year resident of the neighboring Grandmont neighborhood. “There’s also a uniqueness to the homes in the area — plaster walls, cherrywood fireplaces, built-in bookcases. Those are things these new builds don’t have.” The community even has some architectural gems built by Frank Lloyd Wright and Albert Kahn.

Massive flourishing trees dot the sprawling lawns surrounding the stately brick homes in North Rosedale Park. Artistic murals grace the sides of shared space buildings, while Grand River Avenue — and only Grand River Avenue — serves as the only division between North Rosedale Park and its neighboring communities. Brick walkways lead to entrances framed with columns and flanked by trimmed hedges. With no two houses looking the same, the neighborhood is filled to the brim with various styles. French-influenced Tudors and colonials are covered in windows, allowing ample natural light, while Cape Cod homes feature signature dormers. More midsized traditional homes provide a cozy feel, with intimate fenced-in backyards and detached garages. Prices in the area are incredibly affordable given the size of the houses, with four- and five-bedroom homes ranging from the low $100,000s to the high $200,000s.

As part of the Detroit Public Schools Community School District, students can attend Cooke STEM Academy right in the center of the community, branch off to Clippert Multicultural Magnet Honors Academy and wrap up at Cass Technical High School. Thanks to a generous funder, Cass Tech has introduced its Mother-Daughter Business Startup Program to assist mother-daughter entrepreneurial duos in making their business dreams a reality. According to Niche, Cass Tech has an overall grade of B-plus, while Cooke and Clippert have a C-minus and a C.

With the same name as the community where it resides, North Rosedale Park houses the North Rosedale Park Civic Association, which has played an integral part in the maintenance of the neighborhood. “The Rosedale Parks and Grandmont neighborhoods collaborated with the city on a marketing campaign to repopulate Detroit,” says Duke. “Revamping and updating parks was a huge part of that because these communities love their gathering spots.” In addition to the community house, the park also features baseball and soccer fields, well-maintained playgrounds and eye-catching art installations. Nearby, Kelley Park is undergoing renovations that include a new dog park.

Royal Fresh Market is around for grocery runs and grabbing everyday essentials, Meijer is close by for shopping that extends to home goods, housewares, electronics, toys and more. When you don’t feel like cheffing it up yourself, pop into Detroit Vegan Soul for a taste of owner and executive chef Erika Boyd’s “veganized” versions of family recipes that include fried catfish and barbecue ribs. Grab Caribbean cuisine at Island Spice Restaurant or a sweet treat from Good Cookies Detroit.

In their downtime, residents can visit the nearby Redford Branch Detroit Public Library, which offers interactive areas for the kids and quiet places to rest and relax for adults. The library also regularly hosts events for locals, including academic tutoring, Suzuki violin lessons and monthly book and knitting clubs.

Written By

Kent Olden

Photography Contributed By

Sam Adams

Video By

Paris Lape