When I think of Grosse Pointe Park, one word comes to mind: community. We are one of the five Grosse Pointe communities residing along Lake St. Clair and share our borders with the City of Detroit and Grosse Pointe City. A number of factors have made Grosse Pointe Park a destination point for those who desire a quality of life that is second to none. The first element is the wide-ranging diversity and distinctiveness of our many beautiful neighborhoods. Whether you are looking for vibrant rental neighborhoods with flats and condominiums mixed in with affordable single-family homes, stately colonials and tudors, or large lakeside mansions, you will find homes of all sizes and architectural styles within easy walking distance to the best neighborhood schools in the state. Our City offers all of the advantages of a safe and walkable small town, within a short drive to all that downtown and midtown Detroit.
Our two beautiful waterfront parks lead the way in providing recreational facilities and programming to our residents and their guests. Patterson Park is a large, attractively landscaped park with an expansive boardwalk that stretches along our Lake St. Clair waterfront. Patterson Park includes kayak racks and a launch on the shoreline, a splash pad, large playscape, and bocce, tennis, and pickleball courts. Need to tune up your golf game? Patterson offers a year-round golf chipping and putting facility. It also boasts a cozy lodge adjacent to what becomes a reflecting pond with fountains in the summer and a refrigerated ice rink for open skating in the winter.
Windmill Pointe Park is located on Lake St. Clair at the mouth of the Detroit River. The sight of large freighters passing only yards from the shoreline never grows old. The marina accommodates about 270 boats of different lengths and sizes. The park includes both an Olympic size pool and a zero-depth entry children’s pool. The park has tennis courts, volleyball courts, and numerous picnic areas with grills. The Tompkins Community Center in the park features a new glass atrium with a terrific view of the water and is equipped with a commercial-quality catering kitchen, perfect for weddings, graduation parties, and family outings. The Lavins Center includes a fully equipped fitness facility, a gymnasium with basketball and pickleball courts, meeting space, and two modern movie theaters. The Okulski Family Theater shows first-run movies that appeal to the whole family. The Carol C. Schaap Theatre shows a wide range of first-run movies viewed from the comfort of leather recliners.
None of these fine amenities at our parks would be possible if it was not for our Grosse Pointe Park Foundation. The foundation was established in 1984 and was the first private foundation of all the Grosse Pointe cities. It is a non-profit Michigan corporation formed by action of the City Council of the City of Grosse Pointe Park. The foundation is classified as a public charity under the Internal Revenue Code and all contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible.
Grosse Pointe Park has commercial districts on the streets of Kercheval, Jefferson, Charlevoix, and Mack that offer shops, restaurants, bars, and offices fronting attractive streetscapes. Kercheval in the Park is a walkable district that hosts our farmer’s market and becomes a pedestrian walkway during special events such as Kercheval after 6 and our Winter Social. Due to the growing popularity of new restaurants and markets opening last year; Charlevoix hosted an 80’s night and this year we look to host three events including a “Margaritaville” night. The free K-Line Trolley delivers patrons to the district on weekend evenings through Grosse Pointe Park and our neighbors in Grosse Pointe City and Grosse Pointe Farms, stopping at restaurants and shops all along Kercheval.
Residents have made Grosse Pointe Park a premier place to live or visit thanks to their hard work and dedication and we look forward to what the future holds. So please, next time you’re in the area, stop in to the City Hall off of Jefferson and say hello. We look forward to seeing you!