Only two miles from the Detroit urban limits, Livonia, Michigan, features one of the region’s parks with the most historical preservation.
There are 95,000 residents in the city, which is directly west of Detroit.
At the intersection of I-295 and I-96, Livonia provides easy access to the broader metro area while yet having top-notch hotel choices just off the highway and being surrounded by suburban commercial districts.
Livonia’s attractions include an expensive mall, a number of neighborhood parks, and old buildings, although Farmington and Farmington Hills, which are adjacent to the north, expand those choices.
Within 30 minutes, you could be cheering on the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
Furthermore, Missouri and Minnesota both have places with the name Livonia.
Use “Livonia, MI” or “Livonia, MI” as search terms to find information.
On the edge of the city of Livonia, between Six Mile Road and Seven Mile Road on I-275, is a cluster of lodging, dining, and retail establishments.
On the Livonia side of the highway, Northville Village Shopping Center is located, and vice versa.
There are also two movie theaters nearby, along with name-brand shops and sporting goods businesses.
A must-see in Livonia is the 95-acre Greenmead Historical Park, which contains structures dating back as far as 200 years.
13 historical structures, a nature trail, and a communal garden are present.
Videos of the property are available on LivoniaTV’s YouTube account.
Look for specialized activities like wintertime parlor games or summertime outdoor festivals.
The Wilson Barn chronicles the affluent dairy family of the 1800s.
The location itself makes for a wonderful Instagram moment, but throughout the year, keep an eye out for regional activities like pumpkin festivals, classic car shows, and farmer’s markets.
With 152 acres of water surrounding it, Newburgh Point connects to two fishing piers, hiking/biking trails, and a boat launch.
On the shoreline, you can find year-round canoe rentals. To make a reservation, contact 844-WE-KAYAK.
Rents@simpleadventures.net is another email address you can use.
A recent initiative to restore the green spaces and remove sediment from nearby Nankin Lake took place.
Additionally, this lake has a recreation area and a seasonal nature center that honor its mill past.
The Friends of Nankin Mills website has further information.
Dearborn, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, and Ann Arbor are some of the nearby communities you may learn more about by reading the articles on this page.
Avoid these areas in Livonia
It’s absurd to believe any Livonia neighborhood is hazardous when you consider the Detroit metro area as a whole.
As a typical tourist, you shouldn’t dare drive or walk through some areas of Detroit city.
Poverty is hardly a draw for tourists, as I frequently state.
The neighborhood will be safer by Livonia crime standards the more northeast you are in the city.
In the shopping areas, you should be on the lookout for shoplifting incidents and car break-ins.
Let’s discuss Eight Eight Mile Road.
Although Eight Mile Road runs along Livonia’s northern border, this is not Eminem’s 8 Mile.
Although the route is identical, as you pass Woodward, the designation changes from Eight Mile Road to 8 Mile Road (which is when you should strongly reconsider taking that road).
Eight/8 Mile Road is regarded as the dividing line between the less-wealthy and historically segregated area of Detroit and the neighboring, wealthier suburbs.
Eight Mile Road is passable through Livonia and into Redford Township, but you shouldn’t travel any beyond.
In fact, I-96 offers a direct path into the city and is a safer way for everyone if you wish to travel to downtown Detroit.
The tourist districts of downtown Detroit are heavily policed, but the outlying areas can be unsafe.
Our article “How Safe is Detroit for Travel?” has further information.
Travel Safety Advice for Livonia
Livonia has a separate police force (LPD). A daily updated, free interactive crime map is available on the department’s website. You choose the criteria for your search. For instance, you could be interested in seeing how many thefts took place within one mile of your hotel near Laurel Place Park during the course of the previous month. Additionally, you can register for an account and set up alerts for new offenses that match your search criteria.
There are various ways to contact LPD to report local criminal activities. On the department’s website, there are forms for criminal offense tips and drug-related tips. There is also a place for filing a traffic complaint if you come across an aggressive driver or observe abandoned vehicles. Call 911 if you are dealing with an emergency or a crime that is now being committed.
The police department also provides a comprehensive list of safety advice, which ranges from “Just for Women” safety advice to robbery avoidance advice. On the Facebook page of LPD, you may also find the most recent safety information. Find the “Livonia Police Department (Michigan) Official Facebook Page” to be sure you’re at the right spot.
The west side of Livonia’s major interstate 275, which provides quick access to the rest of the metro area, is currently undergoing a significant construction project that will last through fall 2025. The master plan and any revisions will be available on the Revive 275 website. Before choosing this location to stay, it’s critical to be aware of the closures and lane limits. Early in 2023, the project would have been 58% finished.
Before leaving, check the Mi Drive website to see if there are any surface street construction projects, traffic delays, accidents, or construction. Although dealing with traffic is a major annoyance, please bear in mind that building projects are necessary to maintain the safety of the previously neglected highways.
A license from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is necessary to fish anyplace in Michigan, including Livonia. The sole exemption is for those who are younger than 18. A non-resident license can be bought online or at any of the ten Livonia sites that sell them.
Visit the Wayne County Emergency Management website to sign up for emergency notifications. Incoming severe weather, orders to shelter in place, road closures, traffic accidents, and criminal behavior that could endanger public safety are all covered by the warnings. Use the Detroit Alerts 365 app to receive notifications relevant to Detroit.
The city of Livonia offers an optional “Notify Me” alert system that provides email updates from numerous departments. I’d advise selecting the bare minimum of the following alert topics: News Flash, Transit, and Parks & Recreation.
To find out more about the city, current events, and forthcoming activities, browse the LivoniaTV YouTube channel. Visitors may find it useful to listen to the community, recreation, annual events, and fire & rescue playlists.
Check out the Livonia website’s Aircraft Noise section before making a reservation to find out how likely it is that airport noise will keep you awake at night. Although there is a noise compatibility plan in place, noise still exists. Call (734) 942-3222 to file a complaint with the DTW’s Noise Compatibility Program Hotline. When choose a hotel, keep in mind the adjacent highway (and any associated work) as well.
So, Livonia: How Safe Is It Really?
It is impressive in and of itself that Livonia has a crime rate that is 40% lower than the national average.
Even still, it’s almost unbelievable when contrasted to Detroit, where the crime rate is 600% higher than the national average.
Even thefts are about 20% below the national rate, and 50% of thefts in Livonia include stealing.
Thefts of car accessories or break-ins are responsible for another 27%.
After all that, let’s concentrate on the question’s second component, “How safe is it… REALLY?”
While it’s critical to be aware of current crime statistics, it’s even more crucial to consider patterns. The number of violent crimes in Livonia has quadrupled since 2017, going from 111 in 2017 to 227 in 2021.
If that pattern holds, the rate of violent crime will be 15% higher than the current national average by 2026.
For this reason, it’s critical to report any questionable conduct.
While Detroit’s underserved, impoverished, and minority neighbourhoods have the highest rates of crime, there isn’t a strong explanation for why crime is rising so sharply in Livonia.
The poverty rate in this area is less than 5%, with an average income of $86,000.
With 85% of the population being Caucasian, it is one of the least varied localities.
Staffing has been a problem, however 31 new officers were employed in 2022, so we can’t blame the epidemic since this problem started in 2017.
By making that effort, crime tendencies might be prevented from escalating.
By all comparisons, Livonia is safe to visit in 2023 and beyond, although even secure cities can see sporadic violence.
A cursory look of crime in 2022 would give the impression that Livonia isn’t very secure:
December 2022: A Taco Bell patron was upset with a staff member; he was suspected of returning 30 minutes later and firing into the building via open traffic. He was detained.
A local state representative was detained in April 2022 after police claim she was operating a vehicle on a Livonia highway while intoxicated and with two flat tires.
In September 2022, a second-grader allegedly threatened to kill other pupils on the playground while carrying a pocket knife to school.
Additionally, Redford Township, which separates Livonia from a more hazardous area of Detroit, is two miles away (which has a higher crime rate than Livonia but is much lower than Detroit).
Compared to the communities listed above, Farmington Hills and Farmington are more safer.
Useful Information Visas – The U.S. State Department is in charge of the backlogged visa application process that has existed since the outbreak. New regulations put into effect in 2023 ought to hasten the procedure, but get planning as soon as you can and check to see if you qualify for the Visa Waiver program first. Additionally, you will require a passport that is valid and not older than six months.
Currency – Since this is a large shopping area, you should use a credit card as often as you can to prevent fraud and keep track of your transactions. Every transaction will be made using dollars. To acquire the most affordable fees and conversion rates, you can convert foreign currency before your trip.
Weather: There are four different seasons in Metro Detroit, and all of them have the potential for extremes. From late October to early spring, you’ll need warm winter clothing. Bring a rain jacket because spring is also storm and tornado season. The summers will be hot and muggy. For all of your walking, wear cozy shoes, and don’t forget the bug spray.
Airports: Without traffic, Livonia is 24 minutes from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. The fastest route involves the most stoplights, so add an extra 15 minutes to your travel time. It will also take at least one hour to travel there using the SMART bus system.
Travel insurance is an excellent choice because there is a chance that severe weather will disrupt your plans throughout the year in this region. You should also think about getting additional insurance to cover your hotel reservations in case of inclement weather.
