The Metro: The case for a Detroit land conservancy

By: Sam Corey

17 November 2025 at 18:07

Detroit has finally started to regain some population, but it has a long way to go. And that means there’s still a lot of vacant land — 18 square miles of it — that’s just sitting around. What should be done with it?

The local think tank Detroit Future City has an idea.

They are creating a conservancy to protect and steward the land today and well into the future. The Detroit GreenSpace Conservancy wants to protect forests and meadows, and build walking paths and opportunities for agriculture.

Producer Sam Corey spoke with Kimberly Faison, the vice president for thriving and resilient neighborhoods and Sarah Hayosh, the director of land use and design for Detroit Future City.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

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