A park on Detroit's far east side is getting a full facelift this year, including trees, due to the discovery of contaminated soil. A.B. Park, near the Grosse Pointe border, closed this past weekend and will reopen next spring.
Even though the park itself is closed, the new community center, accessed through Lenox Street, will remain open.
When the Lenox Center was demolished, contaminated soil was discovered throughout the park. During the remediation process, two feet of soil will be replaced across the 34-acre park.
That means an average of 20-30 trucks will be dumping soil on the site each day, from March through September.
The park will lose 250 trees during the process; city officials say the trees couldn't sustain the change. In their place, nearly 600 trees will be planted, including native trees, flowering and specimen trees. Various oaks, birch, and maple will be planted.
After the soil remediation is complete, the city will work on amenities in the park's master plan. This includes an improved Riverwalk and shelters, a fishing area, a new playground, and fitness areas. Construction should wrap up and the park should open back up in spring 2025.
Funding for the park renovations is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Strategic Neighborhood Fund.
