Located in Detroit, Michigan, Grand Circus Park is one of the six parks that have enabled the city to attract over 3 million visitors annually through cultural programs, events, and activations. By embracing the history of the park as well as creating numerous experiences designed to appeal to both residents and visitors, Grand Circus Park highlights what it can mean for a park to become more than an urban green space.
A Piece of Michigan History
Grand Circus Park was first established in 1850 as part of the effort to rebuild Detroit after the fire of 1805. Plans for the space included spots for antique statues and old-fashioned fountains. Those spaces would eventually see numerous monuments and fountains installed, all of which would be seamlessly integrated into the larger Grand Circus Park Historic District. Notable buildings in the vicinity include the David Whitney Building, the David Broderick Tower, the Kales Building, the Central United Methodist Church and the former Adams Theater.
The park has come to anchor a growing residential district in downtown Detroit while also being the gateway to area’s entertainment district. Comerica Park, The Fox Theatre, Detroit Opera House, Ford Field, Little Caesars Arena, and The Fillmore are all within walking distance of Grand Circus Park.
While Grand Circus Park is an important piece of Michigan history, it also contains numerous attractions from all different eras of Detroit that are of critical importance to the city and region.
The Monuments and Attractions of Grand Circus Park
Monuments, fountains and pieces of public art have come to define Grand Circus Park. Although none of these pieces are as famous as the “Spirit of Detroit”, they have nonetheless provided the park with an identity that is reflected in various maps for visitors and have allowed it to serve as a point of focus for community events.
Grand Circus Park is bisected by Woodard Avenue, and that distinction defines the two most notable monuments in the park that depict two former city leaders, and opponents, from the late 1800s. On the west side of the divide, Hazen S. Pingree, a former mayor of Detroit and Governor of Michigan, looks east. On the east side of the street, William Maybury, also a former mayor and a political enemy of Pingree, looks back at him. Pingree’s statue commemorates him as “The Idol of the People” while Mayberry is posed casually in front of a wall, which represents his relaxed style.
While not as large as some fountains that can define a space, the Russell A. Alger Memorial Fountain is incredibly distinctive. A bronze statue of a woman holding a shield and a sword standing 7 feet tall represents the state of Michigan. On the other side of the park, the Edison Fountain honors Thomas Alva Edison’s accomplishments. The six-sided fountain is surrounded by a shallow circular pool with pigeons carved into the structure surrounding the fountain’s basin.
Near the Russell A. Alger Memorial Fountain sits the Millennium Bell, which was created to commemorate the turn of the century. Unveiled on December 31, 1999 it is sounded once annually to ring in the new year, although doing so is just one of the many events that take place in the park throughout the year. These activities range from festivals to films to celebrations but also include more regular happening at the dog park or simple strolls across the space.
By featuring such a diverse set of events, attractions and activities, Grand Circus Park has been able to showcase the past of Detroit while also creating a legacy for future generations.
Defining the Grand Circus Park Historic District
The Grand Circus Park Historical District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, further cementing the park’s importance to the city. By celebrating the history of the city while also enabling so many activities for the community in the present, the park has come to showcase what it can mean for a park to define a legacy for the future.
