Detroit’s former Rogell Golf Course is moving again: a 98-acre nature park is under construction, and zoning changes could shape what gets built on the rest

Brian Bateman — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:54:47 +0000

Rogell is now moving on two tracks

The former Rogell Golf Course in northwest Detroit is no longer just a long-range idea. Work is underway on the park portion of the site, and city planning documents show the rest of the property is still moving through the approvals process.

That split matters for nearby residents. Most of the roughly 120-acre site is tied to a passive nature park plan, while the remaining frontage along Seven Mile is still being positioned for future development. The park side is the part that is visibly advancing now. The development side still depends on master-plan and rezoning steps before anything is built.

What is happening now

Detroit Parks and Recreation says the Rogell Park project covers about 98 acres and is intended to become a passive nature park with open space and trail-style features rather than an active sports complex. Recent reporting from WXYZ says construction is underway, with the city targeting a fall 2026 completion for that phase.

At the same time, the Detroit City Planning Commission meeting agenda for April 16, 2026 shows Rogell-related actions are active right now, and the Rogell master plan public hearing notice confirms the site is still in the formal planning pipeline. That is the part of the project that could shape what happens along Seven Mile.

What the site is becoming

The key takeaway for neighbors is that the former golf course is being split into two separate land-use tracks. The larger section is moving toward parkland, which should preserve open space and create a new public amenity in northwest Detroit. The smaller section along Seven Mile remains available for redevelopment and may eventually hold housing, retail, or another mix of uses, depending on what city approvals allow.

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation materials describe the redevelopment piece as a 22-acre site, which helps explain why the project is not a single park conversion. The planning question is not whether the entire golf course becomes green space. It is how much stays open, how much is reserved for future buildings, and how the final layout will fit into the surrounding neighborhood.

Why this matters locally

For residents near Seven Mile and Berg, the immediate benefit is more open space in a part of the city where park access and neighborhood amenities matter a lot. A larger nature park could also change how the area feels day to day, especially for walkers, families, and nearby homeowners.

For commuters and business owners, the bigger unknown is the future development parcel. Any housing or retail there could add traffic, foot activity, and demand for services. It could also influence property values and the way surrounding blocks connect to the corridor.

That is why the next few planning steps matter. The park work is already visible. The development side is still being decided.

What to watch next

Watch for further City Planning Commission action on the Rogell master plan and rezoning items, plus updates from Detroit Parks and Recreation on the park timeline. If the city stays on schedule, the park portion should keep moving through construction this year, while the Seven Mile frontage continues through approvals.

For now, Rogell is one of Detroit’s clearest examples of a site being reshaped in two separate ways at once: a major new public park on one side, and a still-unsolved development site on the other.

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