New Boston, Michigan
Crosswinds Marsh and wetland preserve is one of the nation’s largest wetland mitigation projects. The 900 acre park, now part of Wayne County’s system, was created due to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport expansion. Because natural wetlands required replacement or mitigation, the marsh was created to include five types of wetlands, both natural and created. Crosswinds Marsh provides valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, aids in storm water management and improves water quality through the natural cleansing properties of the plants. We planted 4000 pounds of wetland seed, 500,000 wetland tubers and rootstocks, and 20,000 bare root trees and shrubs.
- Landscape architect: Smith Group JJR
- Main characteristic of the project: Wetland mitigation, native restoration to provide wildlife habitat
- Challenges of the project: The 900-acre park is one of the nation’s largest wetland mitigation projects.
- How we made it work: WH Canon Landscape Company conducted massive planting and wetland seeding, performed proper maintenance after construction. The site successfully mitigates the effects of urban development and provides valuable habitat for wildlife