Southfield City Centre Walking Trail

Bike. Walk. Run. Smile. Enjoy the Southfield City Centre Trail System.

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Southfield City Centre Walking Trail

Southfield, Michigan 48076, United States

Created By: Southfield City Centre

Tour Information

Born from a shared desire to roam, yet still feel close to home, the Southfield City Centre Trail System is a tiny getaway tucked into a friendly urban ecosystem. With 3.26 miles in total, the tour is accessible on two wheels (or two legs), with room for companions, too!

Along this trail, you’ll encounter art, natural beauty, culture, history, and even some opportunities to shop, eat, drink, and play. Here, you’ll experience fresh air, safe, thoughtfully designed trails lined with benches, art installations, wayfinding signs, bikeshare stations, and more. The trail is beautifully maintained, and enjoyable during every season.

A cornerstone of Sustainable Southfield, the city’s 2016 comprehensive Master Plan, the trail system was approved and endorsed by Southfield residents and businesses who put space for heart-healthy outdoor activity at the top of the list of amenities that bring quality of life to their community. It’s a welcome departure from the car-centric land use patterns that dominated Southfield for 60 years.

This guide will help you navigate the trail. Here you will discover bike stations, art installations, outdoor wildlife interpretive rooms, benches, and many other amenities to enjoy.


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What You'll See on the Tour

As Southfield transformed from township to city with a burgeoning population, the 1870s town hall outgrew its usefulness. Acting on the behalf of the City Council, the Southfield Building Authority retained Crain & Gorwic of Detroit t... Read more
Three poles set in a landscaped garden to the north of the entrance to City Hall declare “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in 24 world languages and braille. With a theme of sustainability, the poles represent global peace through the May P... Read more
Veteran Memorial: This stone monument, installed in 1994 by the Southfield Veterans Organization, pays respects to all veterans who have served in the armed forces. The memorial is respectfully placed in the Southfield Veterans Memorial Gar... Read more
By Arthur Kraft and Gwen Lux. “Peacock” is a Midcentury period study in sparse use of materials to form a recognizable whole. The tiles are made from an enameled copper, and the bird itself is made from bronze rodstock. Installation ... Read more
If you’re looking for the best place to study, read, or relax, you’re in luck -- the Southfield Public Library is right around the corner! Open on weekdays, this Southfield gem has an eclectic array of reading materials and educational ... Read more
By Marshall Fredericks. This 5,000-pound marvel was installed in 2016, and is a favorite of those who remember this sculpture as a landmark in the Northland Center.  Peer through the atrium window to see Boy & Bear, or enter the lobby... Read more
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You saw, you came, you conquered: now, you can capture the memory in a selfie! Stop by our renowned "SFLD" letters for a quick and memorable photo op, and be sure to share your snapshot with the tags #SFLD and @southfieldcity!
By Joseph Anthony McDonnell. This piece was commissioned in 1966 by the J.L. Hudson Co. for the Northland Center, where it graced a center courtyard until the mall closed in 2015. It was restored and installed in the fountain of the Southf... Read more
By John Piet, a 35-year resident of Southfield and former art professor at Macomb Community College. The bold 16-foot-tall sculpture is made of steel painted primary red, and is well suited to the center of the Evergreen Road north roundab... Read more
Also known as the “Covenanter Church.” Before this church was built in 1861, the congregation worshipped in homes and barns, and some of the founding members were early settlers of Southfield Township. The adjacent cemetery is the buria... Read more
"Striving" evokes the germination of the seven band of colors (in pastel) of the rainbow striving to its ultimate arching form that we all are familiar with. It also represents the eternal hope & desire to come out of the darkness of th... Read more
By HED. Built through the generosity of 3,665 sponsors in a 2017 Patronicity crowdfunding campaign matched by an MEDC Public Spaces, Community Places grant, this interactive forest of 65 red poles, which represent the past, present and fu... Read more
"Endeavor" evokes the germination of nature with its plant-like tendrils twisting out towards the sky. Like young sprouts in the spring, it represents rebirth and renewal. Design services, fabrication and installation by Signgraphix. In... Read more
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Eaton first contributed easement so the Trail could extend past its building. Then it contributed additional easement for the butterfly sculpture, which was installed this spring, and the creation of an adjoining pollinator garden, home to ... Read more
By Hubert Massey. A series of concrete triptychs with a community-inspired and built mural that tells the past, present, and future of the City of Southfield. Constructed in Fall 2021.
The best and brightest seek out this mid-sized private university to further their STEM and business minds and transform educational experiences into satisfying careers. More than 100 academic programs prepare the innovators of tomorrow wit... Read more
By Dustin Cook, Sheila Nicolin and Dino Valdez. These linear murals by local artists provide an explosion of color along the new LTU Pathway.
Lawrence Technological University athletes live out their University values of Theory and Practice, while exhibiting Teamwork, Trust, Character, Integrity, and Sportsmanship. Lawrence Technological University athletes lead in the classroo... Read more
By David Barr. Purchased from the private collection of a Southfield resident by the Friends of Southfield Public Arts this steel sculpture by Michigan modernist David Barr was restored and installed in the large traffic triangle bounded b... Read more
Mary Thompson’s parents and grandparents were pioneers who helped settle Southfield Township. Mary herself went on to make her mark by donating her farm to the city. Here it stands, along with 20 acres of land, to commemorate her family... Read more
Mary Thompson’s parents and grandparents were pioneers who helped settle Southfield Township. Mary herself went on to make her mark by donating her farm to the city. Here it stands, along with 20 acres of land, to commemorate her family... Read more
Hit the sticks at this glorious 9 -hole, par 34, 2,954-yard course with beautifully landscaped greens! There’s no better way to spend a few hours of your day than soaking up the sun on a plush and exciting course. So grab your bag and re... Read more
By Jay Lefkowitz. Rising 16 feet above its base in the center of the Evergreen Road south roundabout, this piece, fashioned of powder-coated steel, expresses Southfield’s optimism for the future. Lefkowitz is a nationally acclaimed South... Read more
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By Romanian-Canadian artist Sorel Etrog. Fun fact: the Canadian Film Award was once known as an “Etrog” as the artist designed the trophy’s statuette. Installation Date: March 2018. ...
Installed in 2001, this memorial in a secluded and peaceful garden honors by name the Southfield police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. The memorial serves to ensure their sacrifice is not forgotten.
By Melvin Leiserowitz. This steel sculpture was commissioned for the city’s 25th anniversary in 1983 and displayed in the rear of the Southfield Municipal Campus before restoration and reinstallation at the main entrance circle of City H... Read more
Thank you for taking this journey and exploring the Southfield City Centre! Please visit us again soon. Be sure to follow us on social media @southfieldcity.  🌐: https://www.southfieldcitycentre.com/

 

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