3. Physical Characteristics

2. Rationale & Recommended Actions

3. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The following is a description of the physical characteristics of the City of Dearborn Heights. This information is important in understanding the potential for the type and extent of park and recreation improvements and changes in the future.

Land Use Dearborn Heights is predominantly a residential community with low amounts of open space, woodland, and wetland areas. There is limited office and commercial, which is primarily located on Michigan Avenue, within the unique strip of land located in the center of the City borders. Map 1.0 identifies the land uses currently found in the City. As noted above, the predominant land uses are single family residential, which accounts for 50%. Transportation, communication, and utility account for the second largest land use at 25%, while parks, recreation and open space comprise approximately 12%.

Natural Features The City is a fully developed urban area with minimal woodlands and identified wetlands, located along the Lower River Rouge branch and the Middle River Rouge branch. There are no lakes in the City and according to SEMCOG; the City contains only 1,989 acres of open space (grassland, agricultural fields, or turf grass). The City of Dearborn Heights lies between two branches of the Rouge River. The northern portion of the river forms the major water body on the north-east side of the City and continues to run through the adjacent cities of Dearborn, Melvindale, and River Rouge to its eventual deposit into the Detroit River. The lower branch runs through the middle section of the City through Beech Daly and Gulley Roads. The Ecorse Creek is in the southern portion of the City running east-west through Telegraph and Beech Daly Roads.

Transportation The City of Dearborn Heights is located within a fifteen-minute drive of Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport and has easy access to the I-94 and I-96 freeways. The major east-west routes include Michigan Avenue (M-12) and Ford Road (M-153), and the major north-south route is Telegraph Road (M-24). Interstate 94 has interchanges at Inkster and Telegraph Road, which provide access via the southwest section of the City. One short rail line runs through the central portion of the City operated by Conrail.

The City is supported by the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) which provides service to Telegraph, Warren, and Ford Roads. Many of the stops are planned around the community centers, hospitals, and schools. The closest terminal is the Wayne Terminal, located in Inkster, at the corner of Middlebelt Road and Michigan Avenue.