design/ THE STORY

This “Pocket-Sized” Peace Park continues Dearborn’s PEACE initiative, located directly in front of the Arab American National Museum. Set within a dense urban fabric and surrounded by local businesses, the space is designed as a flexible civic amenity, supporting everyday use while fostering moments of pause, connection, and community gathering. Peace Park 2.5 reflects a vision of public space where architecture becomes both functional infrastructure and quiet inspiration for daily life.

A restrained blue and white palette establishes a calm, contemplative atmosphere, evoking a sense of clarity and intellect. Signature Imagine arches define key thresholds throughout the park, softened by cascading vines that introduce movement and seasonal variation. Layered Hydrangea, European Hornbeam, and Clump Birch bring depth and texture, while structured metal planters filled with Boxwood and Arborvitaes maintain continuity and year-round greenery within the composition.

Programmatic elements are carefully integrated to support both passive and active use. A glowing lantern wall marks the transition into the space, guiding visitors toward a seated deck oriented around a small performance stage. Nearby, a shaded dining area extends opportunities for gathering, adjacent to a contemporary “Feather Maze” that introduces an element of exploration and play. Together, these components create a compact but highly intentional public landscape designed to encourage work, rest, and connection within the community.