A peaceful place to reflect and honor those who have served our country in the military, police, fire or rescue services. Memorial Park is the site of Memorial Day services every year.
During the redevelopment and expansion of Memorial Park, we teamed up with AHBE Landscape Architects to create a master plan. This process was designed to engage and inform the community throughout the design and planning phases.
Memorials
Memorial parks are designed to provide a quiet place for visitors to remember their loved ones and reflect on their lives. Rather than the headstones of traditional cemeteries, they use dignified sculptured bronze markers lying flat on landscaped plots to mark graves.
This concept is attributed to Hubert Eaton, one of the early pioneers of the cemetery industry. These types of burial grounds develop park-like rolling lawns within which landscape features delineate the rows of plots and the larger sections of the cemetery.
Typically, the main feature of these types of memorial parks is a walk or donations area (Memorial Section) with appropriate locations designated along the path for donated memorials, plaques and benches. Depending on the project, these types of features may also include central water features, statuary or gathering spots.
Monuments
Rather than compete with the headstones of traditional cemeteries, memorial parks use dignified sculptured bronze markers lying flat on landscaped plots to memorialize graves.
This allows visitors to appreciate the beautiful, manicured grounds without distractions. It also enables the park to provide a serene and calm environment for meditation and reflection.
Memorial parks can also feature memorial benches or plaques that honor individuals or organizations. These may include veterans’ groups, schools or colleges, and community organizations.
Sculptures
The sculptures are on full display at this small but beautiful park near Eleven Mile Road and Middlebelt Street. They are a great way to remember your loved one by letting their spirit shine through.
This 4.5-acre city park on a former landfill hosts large-scale sculpture exhibits year round. Its aptly titled “Monuments Now” exhibition includes some of the most impressive works of art you’ll see this side of a museum.
The statues are a little hazy at times and there’s a lot of traffic to consider, but the site is definitely worth the visit. There are a number of things to see at this fun and family-friendly attraction. The best part is, you don’t have to leave the city to enjoy it. Besides the sculptures, there’s also a splash pool, playground and a nice selection of restaurants and bars.
Gardens
Memorial gardens are places where people can pay their respects, honor and remember those who have passed away. These are also great spots to relax and take in the serenity.
The Sculpture Garden features world-class artwork by some of the best sculptors in the world. You can even witness sculptors working on their pieces!
The park also offers a variety of events and programs. One of the most unique is the Dark Forest, a nighttime immersive walk-through experience in the woods.
Playgrounds
There are plenty of playgrounds to explore in memorial park, and a lot of them are fully accessible. They feature modern equipment on poured rubber mat surfaces, and offer a variety of fun activities for kids of all ages.
There’s an octa-net climber, a big cone-shaped spinning structure, a Xylophone area and more. Some of these structures are specially designed to accommodate wheelchairs and are great for kids with physical disabilities.
There are also plenty of swings and slides to keep the kids busy. The playground is in a great location for exploring and picnicking, and the park is also dog-friendly.