The park was originally gifted to the City of Detroit by U.S. Senator Thomas W. Palmer in 1893.
The onsite Log Cabin, constructed in 1885, was built using original cedar logs from the property's own forest.
The park contains the only remaining old-growth forest within Detroit city limits.
It originally functioned as a farm and summer estate known as 'Log Cabin Farm' before becoming a public park.
The park's golf course is an 18-hole municipal layout integrated into the historic landscape design.
Lake Frances was named after Senator Palmer’s mother.
The park features a unique 'Art Deco' style fountain located near the Merrill Plaisance entrance.
The park hosts one of the oldest annual community art fairs in the region.
Palmer Park is a 296-acre historic municipal park in Detroit, Michigan, designed in 1893 by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. The park features a designated woodland trail system, a historic log cabin built in 1885, and an 18-hole public golf course. It is managed in partnership with the non-profit organization People for Palmer Park. The grounds include a splash pad, tennis courts, and Lake Frances, a man-made body of water. The park serves as a community hub for recreational sports, outdoor concerts, and seasonal festivals. The urban green space is known for its mature oak forests and diverse ecosystem. It is located in the northern section of the city, buffered from surrounding neighborhoods by dense foliage.
The front porch of the historic 1885 Log Cabin during golden hour.
Bring bug spray if you plan to walk the woodland trails, as the dense forest areas can attract mosquitoes.
Check the People for Palmer Park website for local volunteer event schedules before your visit to see if you can participate in a park cleanup or community project.
Stick to marked pathways to protect the fragile undergrowth of the old-growth forest areas.
Do not wander off the marked trails into the deep woods to avoid ticks and poison ivy.
The golf course is seasonal and typically operates from spring through late autumn.
Leash your dogs at all times and practice leave-no-trace principles to preserve the old-growth forest.
