Grand Circus Park — Attraction in Detroit

Grand Circus Park back to Judge Augustus B. Woodward's master plan to rebuild Detroit after the 1805 devastating fire. The park was meant to be a full circle - the "circus" the name - but rising land values north of Adams Street led property owners to resist selling, leaving the park as a half-moon bisected by Woodward Avenue.

It links Detroit's theater district to its financial core, and over the decades, it has hosted everything from presidential eulogies to public protests. In fact, General George Armstrong Custer once delivered a eulogy there for Abraham Lincoln before thousands of mourners.

The park is adorned with statuary and fountains that speak to Detroit's civic pride. The eastern half features the Russell Alger Memorial Fountain, designed by Henry Bacon (who also designed the Lincoln Memorial), with a Roman allegorical figure sculpted by Daniel Chester French. Nearby stands the statue of Mayor William Cotter Maybury. The western half is anchored by the Edison Memorial Fountain and the statue of Mayor Hazen Pingree, a populist reformer whose legacy still looms large.

It's a layered space - literally, as there are parking garages below - with memorials and a green park. Plenty of benches and tables and a free wifi. And a very strong police presence during the daytime and after...

Grand Circus Park is an interesting place to visit.  There are plenty of benches.  It is located in a very busy location.  It is a true circus as there is circular driving all around the park.  The crossings to the other streets are short and well identified.  Some of the cars enter the circus a little too fast.  Either they aren't used to the small street motion or they are being careless.  The park has been neglected for a long time.  It is great to see it being put back into use.

It's a great place to stop for lunch.  Whether you are having takeout or a brown bag lunch.  The last time I stopped there they had some example patio furniture around.  The pieces looked like something you'd have in your living room, so, I thought it a bit much but its a durn sight better than having the place empty.  There is some underground parking there but I'm not sure how it works or if it is still in service.

The Opera House is nearby and some great apartment buildings.  I am so glad they are being fixed up.  Most of them are still empty as people move back around the park I expect to see more people there.  Come on by when you're downtown.  It's got a great fountain, a giant statue...

This is a nice park conveniently located in downtown Detroit. I came here after I got off a bus, and was satisfied with my experience. I left the bus stop and walked around the western portion of the park, which was green and shady. After that, I crossed Woodward Ave to walk around the eastern portion of the park, which always also quite nice. In addition to being green and shady, (when I say shady I mean the park has lots of shade from trees, not that the park is sketchy) it also has a really nice statue which looks great. I passed the statue and walked to a part of the park where there was a long row bench shaped like a circle. The bench encircled a small circle of pavement, which I walked through. I walked through the entire western portion of the park and left. I gave this park five stars because it’s conveniently located in downtown Detroit and it has lots of shade...