Detroit

Location data
Map
Loading map...
Location Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates 42° 19' 53.58" N, 83° 2' 47.91" W

The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism for climate, environment and many other sustainability topics across Detroit.

News

  • News Recent Canadian wildfires are record-breaking – and will threaten US air quality for days, Eric Holthaus, theguardian.com (May 30, 2025)
Read more

Video

Networks and sustainability intiatives

Community involvement

Food activism

City Commons, cooperative of Detroit farms - Detroit Black Community Food Security Network - Detroit Dirt, compost company working to turn forgotten parcels of land in Detroit into urban farms that not only feed, but revitalize community - Detroit Food Policy Council - Earthworks Urban Farm

Community resources

  • Citizens data initiative: DetroitData, Collaborate, compile, and share open data for effective community-based decision making in Detroit.

Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle

Recycle Here!

Sharing

Maps: Detroit Solidarity Economy v2

Sustainable transport

The QLINE is a 3.3-mile-long (5.3 km) streetcar system in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Opened in 2017, it connects Downtown Detroit with Midtown and New Center, running along Woodward Avenue for its entire route. It is supplemented by the Detroit People Mover, which serves as a circulator route in downtown Detroit, and also connects to DDOT and SMART bus routes as part of a comprehensive network of transportation in metropolitan Detroit.

Cycling activism

Detroit is flat with an extensive road network and a number of recreational and competitive opportunities for cycling. The city has invested in greenways and bike lanes and other bicycle-friendly infrastructure. Bike rental is available from the riverfront and tours of the city's architecture can be booked.

The city has a cycling heritage, and first embraced cycling during the "golden age" of the 1890s.

Cycling Maps

Open spaces

Detroit RiverFront Conservancy

Trees, woodland and forest

The Greening of Detroit is a 501(c)(3) non-profit environmental organization whose mission is to inspire the sustainable growth of a healthy urban community through trees, green spaces, healthy living, education, training and job opportunities. The Greening serves communities in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck, Michigan.

News archive

  • Eco-friendly 'green' district launched in Detroit, Jun 7, 2017...@detroitnews
  • Detroit Imagines a Citizen-Led Smart City, May 31, 2017...citylab.com
  • Public, not private, interests now rule riverfront plan, Mar 11, 2017...@freep

About Detroit

In the 2010s, several initiatives were taken by Detroit's citizens and new inhabitants to improve the cityscape by renovating and revitalising neighbourhoods. Such include the Motor City Blight Busters and various urban gardening movements.

Planning and development in Detroit includes efforts aimed at enhancing Detroit's economy and quality of life. In 1970, the private group "Detroit Renaissance" began to facilitate development in the city, while its successor, Business Leaders for Michigan, has continued to facilitate development into the 21st century. Projects have included new commercial facilities, revitalization of neighborhoods, hospitality infrastructure, and improvements to recreational and public facilities, such as the QLine.

Page data
Authors Phil Green
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Cite as Phil Green (2017–2025). "Community action/Detroit". Appropedia. Retrieved November 28, 2025.