Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan


Grosse Pointe Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 11,555 at the 2010 census. Bordering on Detroit with frontage on southern Lake Saint Clair, it is the westernmost of the noted Grosse Pointe suburbs, with the oldest overall housing stock of the five cities. Grosse Pointe Park is east of downtown Detroit and thus is home to many who commute to the city on a daily basis. The area is often referred to simply as 'GPP' or "The Park".

History

Before incorporation as a city, the area that would become the city of Grosse Pointe Park was incorporated as the Village of Fairview, which spanned Bewick Street in the west to Cadieux Road in the east in Grosse Pointe Township. The city of Detroit annexed part of the village in the township from Bewick Street to Alter Road in 1907. Fearing further annexation, the part of the village east of Alter Road incorporated as the Village of Grosse Pointe Park later that year. Seeking further annexation protection from Detroit and independence from its township, the village reincorporated as a city in 1950.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and is water. The water is part of Lake St. Clair. Grosse Pointe Park has about of borders with Detroit, with one border between Alter Road and Wayburn to the southwest, and another along Mack Avenue to the northwest; its third border on land is with the city of Grosse Pointe along Cadieux Road to the northeast.

Cityscape

The neighborhoods in Grosse Pointe Park are built on a standard grid street pattern which flows out of Detroit, and housing ranges from tightly-packed single- and multi-family brick houses, often rentals, on the far west side of the Park, to rows of traditionally-styled single family homes generally averaging over, to multimillion-dollar mansions, some of which are found on the lakeshore. The west side of the city features mixed-use neighborhoods, where retail, schools, and churches are within close walking distance. The rest of the city is basically residential, but at the eastern edge residents are in close walking distance to "the Village" shopping district in Grosse Pointe. Many of the houses in the Park were built prior to World War II, and many of these were designed by noted architects using the finest materials. Windmill Pointe Drive, and streets such as Bishop, Kensington, Yorkshire, Edgemont Park, Three Mile Drive, Devonshire, Buckingham, Berkshire, Balfour, Middlesex, and Nottingham among others, each have dozens of large, architecturally significant homes. These mansions and mini-manses were often placed on large lots which were often split up, the result being that some post-war ranch style homes are mixed in with homes of traditional design.
Grosse Pointe Park includes a large neighborhood located on Windmill Pointe, the edge of which marks the entrance to the Detroit River and the end of Lake St. Clair. A large lakefront park with a pool, gym, movie theaters, and gathering spaces for residents only is found at this spot. At the base of the point, at the foot of Three Mile Drive, is another large park, Patterson Park, which is known for its skating rink and walking trails. One way that people distinguish geography in Grosse Pointe Park is by location north or south of Jefferson Avenue, the south side being generalized as Windmill Pointe.
The Park also includes a section known as the "cabbage patch," an area of town with densely-packed multi-family houses in contrast to the single-family homes with larger lots that populate the vast majority of the Grosse Pointes. The cabbage patch is generally considered to be the northwest corner of the city, bounded by Mack, Wayburn, Jefferson, and Somerset, with a small extension south of Jefferson on Nottingham and Beaconsfield. The region's name can be seen in various local establishments such as the Cabbage Patch Cafe and Cabbage Patch Saloon.
Grosse Pointe Park, along with Grosse Pointe and Grosse Pointe Farms, is in the Grosse Pointe South High School district. There are two Grosse Pointe Public School System elementary schools in the Park: Defer and Trombly schools, in addition to one middle school: Pierce Middle School. The eastern Park is also served by Maire Elementary in Grosse Pointe in the Village district. Then serves the one high school, South High School off Fisher Road. There is one private school in the Park, the K-8 St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic School on Charlevoix and Audubon streets.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 11,555 people, 4,516 households, and 3,182 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 4,997 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 85.0% White, 10.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.
There were 4,516 households, of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.10.
The median age in the city was 41.8 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 32.1% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,443 people, 4,816 households, and 3,303 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,772.6 per square mile. There were 5,043 housing units at an average density of 2,339.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 92.48% White, 2.95% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.82% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of the population.
There were 4,816 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $105,161. Males had a median income of $92,611 versus $63,488 for females. The per capita income for the city was $58,223. About 1.8% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

serves Grosse Pointe Park.
Defer Elementary School, Trombly Elementary School, and Pierce Middle School are located in Grosse Pointe Park. Along with Defer and Trombly, Maire Elementary School in Grosse Pointe also serves a section of the city. All residents are zoned to Pierce Middle and Grosse Pointe South High School in Grosse Pointe Farms.
In June 2019 the school board voted to close Trombly Elementary School as the numbers of students had declined.
St. Clare of Montefalco School, a private Catholic K-8 school, is in Grosse Pointe Park.

Public libraries

The Grosse Pointe Public Library operates the Carolyn and Ted Ewald Memorial Branch Library in Grosse Pointe Park. The library was scheduled to open in 2004. The branch was originally scheduled to open in October of that year, but delays moved the opening month to January 2005.

Notable people