Following an 1805 fire that destroyed most of Detroit, officials and citizens banded together to rebuild their city. Through the leadership of Territorial Chief Justice Augustus Woodward, surveyors began planning a new layout for Detroit based on a plan similar to that of Washington D.C. The Canadian surveyors hired to layout the new city streets and parks establishhed their basecamp at this location and used it as the centerpoint for all of their activities.

This area was orginally marshy and wet, but the city filled in most of the wetlands during the mid-19th century to make way for development.

Many Michigan units that served during the American Civil War departed from this park and it was for this reason that the city elected to place the Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial within the park.

The park fell victim to neglect during the second half of the 20th century but was revitalized bewtween 2003 and 2004 through the efforts of former mayor Dennis Archer, the Detroit 300, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and the Detroit City Council. 

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