Palmer Park

Senator Thomas Witherell Palmer envisioned a tranquil escape from Detroit’s bustling city life for his wife, Lizzie. He gifted her a rustic log cabin nestled within a sprawling 640-acre estate. This, my friends, is the heart of Palmer Park. Palmer Park, a 296-acre sanctuary, a gift from the Senator to the city of Detroit in 1893. It began with a 140-acre donation, a promise to preserve the virgin forest. The park bears his name, although he initially christened it Log Cabin Park. The official name change happened in 1897. The cabin, designed by Mason & Rice and completed in 1887, sits serenely near the shores of Lake Frances, named for Palmer’s mother-in-law. The Palmers cherished their summers in this simple retreat, hosting gatherings both grand and intimate. A tin horn announced dinner, a bonfire crackled merrily under the night sky, and visiting senators each planted a tree, their names etched on brass plaques. Palmer Park is more than just the cabin. Within its boundaries, you’ll find a disc golf course, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails, and the shimmering Lake Frances, complete with its own miniature lighthouse. A splash park now occupies the site of a former Olympic-sized pool. Lost to time are Lake Harold and its waterfall, Pontiac Cascade, and the once-grand casino that met its fiery end in 1945. The Merrill Fountain, a marble masterpiece originally from Campus Martius Park, now stands silent in Palmer Park, a testament to a bygone era. Close to the Log Cabin hangs an old Spanish bell, cast in 1793 and gifted to the city by Senator Palmer. Palmer Park has weathered challenges, facing potential closure in 2010. But thanks to dedicated groups like People for Palmer Park and the Palmer Park Citizens Action Council, this urban oasis continues to thrive, offering solace and recreation to all who enter. As you explore Palmer Park, remember the Senator’s vision: a place where city dwellers could reconnect with nature’s tranquility.