In 2026, a group of volunteers initiated the restoration of the Historic Rose Garden, located in the median on W Grand Blvd, just north of Porter St.  The name might be a little confusing: the garden itself isn’t historic. The roses are.

In the 1990s, when the Moroun’s Ambassador Bridge operation was allowed to purchase historic homes in the area and cause them to be razed, a group of advocates led by Curtis Truitt, in what is now Hubbard Farms Historic District, committed a bit of tactical urbanism and rescued rose bushes from many of the affected parcels, transplanting them in the rose garden. These plants were part of the original gardens when the homes were built, some dating back to the turn of the 20th century.

After its primary founder and gardner moved from the neighborhood, and with the ebbs and flows of the neighborhood and its residents, the rose garden fell into some wildness which hid its beautiful features. But like so many stories of resilience within Detroit, it survived. Marlena Hanlon with Crow House tried several times over the years to provide stewardship for the garden, even securing funding through what is now Neighbor Detroit, but struggled with receiving clear direction from changing city guidance and programs. Finally using momentum from other infrastructure improvements within Hubbard Farms, she met with city planners in Spring 2026 to solicit support and test viability of the restoration. Shortly thereafter, the garden’s designer, Truitt, reached out, sharing the project’s history as well as more neighborhood’s history.

In early Summer 2026, Crow House sponsored the restoration work, using the initial financial support garnered from Neighbor Detroit. Hanlon developed a sustainability curriculum to accompany the physical restoration, with limited reception.  Hanlon received a commitment from the City of Detroit for additional bulk pick-up support and tree trimming, which has been committed but with an unknown fulfillment date.  Truitt and Hanlon have worked with a steady core number of volunteers to move the restoration forward. The 2026 season is expected to last through October, focusing on literally and figuratively clearing the ground in preparation for Spring 2027 as a planting season. Goals during the preparation work include:

• design and planning
• removing volunteer trees and plants which have emerged over the years
• raising the canopy of mature trees in the area for light access
• extensive weeding and trash removal
• revealing the overgrown paved path through the median end
• restoring any broken or missing support structure, like trellises
• transplanting roses which have migrated over time into their planned place
• beginning the basic earthworks for rain garden support

In Spring 2027, focus will include formalizing the path within the original cross design, fortifying the rain garden swales, planting additional annual and perennial guilds, and adding other features which may enhance the experience of the site. Gardens are perpetual and evolving projects, but a clear public garden space is expected to take shape by Fall 2027.

This project uses permaculture and conservation principles, emphasizing retention of the historic roses and the garden’s original design at its core; integration of complementary plants, emphasizing native, functional perennials (eg, medicinals, pollinator support, etc); rain garden tactics; and using the garden’s development and implementation as a vehicle to build community solidarity and shared assets.

Any volunteer is welcome to participate in all or a portion of the process and may be accommodated as needed in order to participate. Other groups are also invited as partners for special sustainability curriculums. Anyone who wishes to materially support the project with earmarked materials or financial donations may reach out to the organizer through the Contact Form.