Livonia is a city in Wayne County, Michigan with a population of around 94,000 residents. Founded in 1835, Livonia has a rich history and several notable landmarks that make it a great place to live, work, and visit. Here are some of the top landmarks and attractions in Livonia, Michigan.

Greenmead Historical Village

Greenmead Historical Village is one of Livonia’s most unique and interesting landmarks. This living history museum spans 12 acres and aims to preserve Livonia’s rural agricultural past.

History

Greenmead was established in 1976 by the Livonia Historical Commission on the former site of the Newburg School. Over the years, historic 19th century buildings from around Livonia were moved and reconstructed at Greenmead to create an entire village representing 1800s Livonia.

Attractions

Some of the highlights at Greenmead Historical Village include:

• Newburg Schoolhouse – The original one-room schoolhouse from 1860. Now filled with historical exhibits.
• Collins House – An 1830s brick home furnished with antiques.
• Cady-Boyer Barn – An 1880s barn housing antique farming equipment.
• Hill House – An 1839 home showcasing Livonia family life in the Victorian era.
• Shopping at the Sloan General Store stocked as it would have been in the 1880s.
• Special events like Civil War Remembrance Days, Traditional Crafts Day, and Old Fashioned Christmas.

Livonia Recreation Center

The Livonia Recreation Center is the hub for sports, fitness, and leisure activities in the city. This massive 120,000 square foot complex provides endless recreation opportunities for Livonia residents.

Indoor Attractions

Inside the recreation center you’ll find:

• Competition sized swimming pool
• Leisure pool with play features and lazy river
• Hot tub, dry sauna, and steam room
• Fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment
• Gymnasium for basketball, volleyball, and more
• Racquetball and squash courts
• Game room with billiards, foosball, ping pong

Outdoor Attractions

Outside the rec center are even more amenities:

• Sports fields for baseball, softball, soccer, and more
• Sand volleyball courts
• Inline hockey rink
• Skate park
• Picnic pavilions
• Walking trails
• Playgrounds

With so many activities for all ages, it’s easy to spend a whole day at the Livonia Rec Center!

Livonia City Hall

The Livonia City Hall is the seat of government for the city. This historic building was constructed in 1958 and has served as the central hub for Livonia’s leaders and legislation for over 60 years.

Architecture

Livonia City Hall has a mid-century modern style. The two-story brick building features large glass windows, clean lines, and minimal ornamentation. There is a prominent central stairway up to the main entrance.

Interior Spaces

Inside city hall you’ll find:

• City council chambers
• Offices for the mayor, city clerk, and other government officials
• Livonia Police headquarters
• Municipal courtrooms
• Basement fallout shelter

The lobby often hosts art displays from local artists. Livonia City Hall is considered one of the finest examples of civic mid-century modern architecture in the region.

Botsford Hospital

Botsford Hospital is a major healthcare provider for Livonia and the surrounding communities. Founded in 1965, this 301-bed non-profit hospital offers leading medical care across 36 specialties.

Facilities

Some of Botsford’s facilities and services include:

• Level II trauma center
• Comprehensive cancer care through the Leanne Schnitzer Cancer Institute
• Advanced heart and vascular center
• Orthopedics, including joint replacement, spine surgery, and sports medicine
• Women’s health with expert maternal fetal medicine
• 24/7 emergency room
• Helipad for emergency air transport

In 2022, Botsford Hospital completed a $100 million expansion project to better serve patients across Michigan.

Laurel Park Place

Laurel Park Place is Livonia’s largest shopping mall and retail district. This 1.4 million square foot center first opened in 1989.

Anchor Stores

Laurel Park Place is anchored by 4 major department stores:

• Von Maur
• Macy’s
• JCPenney
• Nordstrom

Amenities

In addition to over 140 specialty shops, the mall also offers:

• Huge food court with everything from burgers to sushi
• Luxury dine-in movie theater
• Carousel and children’s play area
• Holiday events like visits from Santa

With stores ranging from Coach to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Laurel Park Place is a shopper’s paradise. It’s one of the premier malls in metro Detroit.

Livonia Community Recreation Center

The Livonia Community Recreation Center (LCRC) is another hub for sports, fitness, and leisure in Livonia. While smaller than the main Rec Center, LCRC provides a wide range of amenities.

Facilities

LCRC features:

• Heated indoor pool
• Hot tub and sauna
• Cardio and weight rooms
• Gymnasium
• Activity rooms for dance, arts, and enrichment classes
• Game room with ping pong, foosball, and pool tables

Outdoor Spaces

Outside you’ll find:

• Athletic fields for baseball, football, soccer, and more
• Tennis and pickleball courts
• Walking trail
• Playground and spray park

LCRC hosts swim lessons, sports leagues, summer camps, and special events year-round.

Rotary Park

Rotary Park is one of Livonia’s main public parks. Spanning 132 acres, it’s a wonderful green space in the heart of the city.

Attractions

Rotary Park features:

• Walking trails winding through woods and meadows
• Sledding hill that transforms into a concert hill during summer
• Two large playground structures for kids
• several sports fields for baseball, soccer, football
• Picnic shelter with grills and restrooms
• Fishing pond stocked with bluegill, crappie, and bass

The park also hosts a popular annual arts and crafts fair each summer. With so much natural beauty and family recreation, Rotary Park is a jewel of Livonia.

St. Mary Mercy Hospital

St. Mary Mercy Hospital has been providing compassionate care for the people of Livonia and surrounding communities since 1959. This 364-bed hospital employs over 2,500 staff across over 30 medical specialties.

Services

Some of St. Mary Mercy’s areas of expertise include:

• Heart and vascular care
• Cancer treatment
• Orthopedics and joint replacement
• Neurosciences, including stroke care
• Women’s health, including births and NICU services
• Level III trauma center
• 24/7 emergency department
• Outpatient clinics across Livonia

St. Mary Mercy has a deep connection to the Livonia community. Many residents have been born at the hospital and received care there across their lifetimes.

Livonia Public Schools

With over 15,000 students, Livonia Public Schools is a major institution shaping the lives of Livonia youth. The district has 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools across the city.

High Schools

The 3 comprehensive high schools in Livonia are:

• Churchill High School (home of the Chargers)
• Franklin High School (home of the Patriots)
• Stevenson High School (home of the Spartans)

Each high school has over 2,000 students involved in rigorous academics, athletics, arts, and extracurricular activities. Livonia high school graduations are a huge community event each year.

History

Livonia Public Schools were established in the 1860s as country schools to serve area farm children. The district has grown exponentially as Livonia transformed into a bustling suburb. Generations of Livonians have gone through LPS, which binds the community together.

Livonia Public Library

The Livonia Public Library provides education, entertainment, and enrichment to the entire community. The library first opened in 1921 and moved to its current building in 2003.

Services

The library offers:

• Over 500,000 books, audiobooks, movies, and more
• Computer lab and free WiFi access
• Storytimes and summer reading programs for kids
• Book clubs and writer workshops for adults
• Large genealogy and local history collection
• Meeting rooms for community events
• Ongoing used book sales

For 100 years, the Livonia Public Library has played an integral role in the intellectual and cultural life of the city.

Conclusion

From historic sites like Greenmead Village to community hubs like the Rec Center and library, Livonia has many remarkable landmarks that make the city special. Livonia’s schools, parks, hospitals, and shopping also provide