We, the undersigned residents, gardeners, parents, and community members, call on the City of Detroit and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to halt the planned herbicide applications at Hunt Park.

We are deeply concerned about the potential health, environmental, and agricultural impacts of using chemical herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr near our homes, food gardens, and public gathering spaces. These chemicals are linked to health risks, including possible cancer and soil contamination, and may threaten our organic crops, local pollinator population and native American Toad habitat. 

 Every year, I welcome hundreds youth on my farm who play in Hunt Park and love to interact with the wildlife there, including American toads, native insects, a family of geese, a family of deer and many birds. These herbicide applications would harm their health, impact wildlife and reduce their access to natural play, an important component of youth development and learning.

What’s at Risk?

Our Health: Glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen (WHO, 2015) and is linked to liver/kidney damage and endocrine disruption.

Our Food: Drift and runoff from herbicide spraying may contaminate nearby gardens, threatening local crops, and animals.

Our Environment: These herbicides harm soil microbes, pollinators (like bees and butterflies), and aquatic ecosystems. Hunt Playground houses a natural wetland and has a thriving aquatic ecosystem that also serves as a watering hole for local animals. 

We Support Safer Alternatives:
✔ Sheet mulching
✔ Hand-weeding with community volunteers
✔ Flame weeding
✔ Native groundcover restoration

We request the immediate suspension of herbicide use and ask that the city work with the community to explore safe, non-toxic alternatives for vegetation management.

Let’s Protect Hunt Park
Speak up! Contact our local officials to voice your concern. Together, we can keep our parks and gardens safe and chemical-free.

Councilman Scott Benson | BensonS@detroitmi.gov | (313) 224-1198

Director of Sustainability Tepfirah Rushdan | tepfirah.rushdan@detroitmi.gov

Director of Urban Agriculture Patrice Brown | Patrice.Brown@detroitmi.gov

Petition by:

Urban Farmer, Derrienne Reese | Asibaraforest@gmail.com