The evolution, expansion and reach of Northville Parks and Recreation will continue at a rapid pace in 2026 and include renovation, accreditation, the addition of two new parks and much more in an effort to create additional and better services for the Northville community.

“Northville is in the middle of one of the most exciting transformations our parks system has ever seen,” said Northville Parks and Recreation Director Derek Smith. “What excites me most is what these parks mean for everyday life. Families, seniors, kids, and visitors will be able to move through Northville in a whole new way – from downtown to the river, to trails, to green space – safely, accessibly and beautifully.”

One of the items on the top of the to-do list for this year is the relocation of the Parks and Rec administrative office to its own stand-alone building. Northville Township is renovating the former headquarters of the Department of Public Works (relocated to the Essential Services Complex) on Beck Road between Five and Six Mile roads, where residents can register for classes, as well as store its used equipment. The move also frees up the space at Hillside to allow space for expanded programming.

The move is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

Parks and Recreation also is working on adding new parks in the city of Northville, including new Ford Field East, River Park and Central Park. These destinations will soon be linked to the Seven Mile pathway that connects to Legacy Park.

- Ford Field Park represents a key expansion of recreational space and connectivity in downtown Northville. The park improvements focus heavily on accessibility and trail development, including a new shared-use pathway designed to link downtown to the River Park corridor and regional trail systems.
- River Park is the largest of the new downtown parks and the environmental centerpiece of the former Northville Downs redevelopment. Covering more than 10 acres, the park restores a previously buried section of the Rouge River – a major ecological investment for the city.
- Central Park will be a smaller but highly visible green space located within the Downs redevelopment area. At roughly 1.5 acres, it’s designed as a walkable civic space that complements River Park and strengthens downtown gathering opportunities.

River Park is slated to open this spring while Central Park and Ford Field East should be completed in 2027.

While Legacy Park itself is a large, long-range project on Seven Mile, the city’s emerging Riverwalk and trail initiatives are designed to tie these downtown parks into a regional network.

“These new and improved parks – Ford Field Park East, River Park, Central Park and Legacy Park – aren’t standalone projects,” Smith said. “They’re part of a connected vision that will let residents walk or bike from downtown into natural spaces, regional trails and eventually even toward destinations like Maybury State Park.”

Parks and Recreation also recently began a rigorous multi-year accreditation process through the National Recreation and Park Association’s Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). The accreditation promotes the community as a great place to live, encourages professional development for staff and provides a pathway to success for the department.

Only three communities in Michigan have achieved the distinction of CAPRA Accreditation: Canton Leisure Services; Independence Township Parks, Recreation & Seniors; and Novi Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services.

“CAPRA is the only national accreditation of park and recreation agencies and is a valuable measure of an agency's overall quality of operation, management and service to the community,” Smith said. “Achieving CAPRA accreditation is the best way to demonstrate that your agency and staff provide the community with the highest level of service.”

Northville Parks and Rec are building a parks system that helps people truly connect, create and be inspired – and they’re just getting started.

“When you look at the parks opening downtown, the trail connections, the CAPRA accreditation journey and our new headquarters, it all points to the same thing: we are building a Parks and Recreation department that’s ready for the next generation of city and township residents,” Smith said. “We’re growing, we’re improving and we’re doing it in a way that keeps residents at the center of everything.”