Much of the project area in Riverview Park is wooded, but a gravel public road and asphalt bike/walking path runs alongside the river throughout the area, causing habitat fragmentation. At this site, wetland restoration and lawn conversion to habitat is proposed creating or restoring 13 acres of habitat area. To accomplish this, the road will be shortened, and the path will be moved to reduce habitat fragmentation. Native herbaceous plants will be established via seed and plugs. The turf grass will be killed with herbicide and tilled. The areas will then be planted with native seed and shrubs from containerized stock. Within the remaining forested area, invasives will be removed by cutting and herbicide application.
Funding and Parnters
This project was funded by the U. S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office through an approximately $4M Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant received by the Alliance of Rouge Communities for five projects (Lola Valley, Bell Creek, Riverview Park, Sherwood Park and Lower Rouge) Grant #GL-00E02896. The design was completed under an approximately $770,000 GLRI grant to Wayne County in 2019 (Grant # GL-00E02432) Partners in this project include the U.S. EPA, GLRI, ARC, and Wayne County Parks
Where and When
Riverview Park is located in Livonia, Michigan and is a tributary of the Middle Branch of the Rouge River. Project design began in 2019 with construction starting in the summer of 2022 and is anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2022. Maintenance of the vegetation that will be planted as part of the restoration will be done in 2023-2024.
Anticipated Outcomes
Wetland restoration and lawn conversion to habitat is proposed creating or restoring 13 acres of habitat area An access road will be shortened, and the path will be moved to reduce habitat fragmentation Native herbaceous plants will be established via seed and plugs Turf grass will be killed with herbicide and tilled and the areas will then be planted with native seed and shrubs from containerized stock. Invasives will be removed by cutting and herbicide application in the remaining forested area
Reports and More Information
Riverview Concept Plan Rouge River AOC Habitat Restoration Implementaion in Wayne County Parks Public Education Flyer
Conditions Before Restoration
Conceptual Design
![]()