Conner Creek Greenway

The Conner Creek Greenway will stretch from 8 Mile Road south to the Detroit River, tracing the original Conner Creek. It will link people, parks, greenspaces, neighborhoods, schools and shops. The Conner Creek Greenway will improve Detroit’s eastside by creating: pedestrian and bike paths, beautification with plants and flowers, historical signage, spin-off business opportunities and a better environment. The new trail system will connect the eastside communities with greenways along the Detroit River and across Southeast Michigan. The Conner Creek Greenway unites the eastside in celebrating the past and welcoming the future.

The Conner Creek Greenway was initiated by the Detroit Eastside Community Collaborative (DECC) to connect eastside residents and visitors to the Detroit River. DECC has completed almost five of the nine planned miles of path to date. The first phase of the Conner Creek Greenway is the delightful little Milbank Greenway, passing through the abandoned Milbank right-of-way between Van Dyke and Conner near 8 Mile Road. Other completed sections include a mixed-use biking and walking path beginning at Conner Playfield at Conner & Harper and ending at Coleman A. Young International Airport, bike lanes along St. Jean from Mack to Jefferson, and a mixed-use biking and walking path along Conner and Clairpointe south of Jefferson, improving Maheras Gentry Park. The next improvements will begin Summer 2012 between 6 and 8 mile Roads along Outer Drive and Conner St. The vision for the Conner Creek Greenway is to eventually link all the eastside communities, social agencies, schools, recreation areas and businesses. For example, a student at Osborn High School could meet her friends at the Lipke Recreational Center, stop at the Warren Conner Shopping District and continue on to a family picnic at Maheras Gentry Park.