Located in the heavily industrialized southwestern area of Detroit, the two neighborhoods occupy the entirety of the 48217 ZIP Code.

Boynton is the southernmost neighborhood, stretching as far south as Outer Drive on the border with the city of Lincoln Park.

The park opened in 1957 and was named after local resident Charles Kemeny, who died in combat in World War II.

Interstate 75, known locally as the Fisher Freeway, runs north–south through the Boynton and Oakwood Heights neighborhoods and has two exits: Outer Drive (#42) and Schaefer Highway (#43).

Fort Street (formerly U.S. Route 25) runs north–south through the middle of the neighborhoods, passes under Interstate 75, and crosses the River Rouge leading into Downtown Detroit.

[8] Oakwood Heights has one property listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Fort Street–Pleasant Street and Norfolk & Western Railroad Viaduct, which was constructed in 1928.

[20] Southwest Detroit contains heavy industrial development, and this has reportedly raised health concerns for some residents living in Boynton and Oakwood Heights.

In February 2019, the Detroit Metro Times reported that the remaining 7,000 residents in the neighborhoods have a higher rate of asthma and cancer than most of the country.

[2] Long ago, the city zoned its southwest area for heavy industrial use despite preexisting residential communities.

Air pollution in Boynton and Oakwood Heights has reportedly led to respiratory diseases and cancer cases in long-term residents.

In an article published by the Detroit Free Press in June 2010, they reported, "For the past six months, a rain of mysterious sparkly dust of unknown origin has landed on their homes and gardens.

The largest of these industries is the Marathon Petroleum Company LP refinery located at 301 South Fort Street in Oakwood Heights.

[25] The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has issued 13 violations to the facility since 2013 and at least three fines, especially after a massive cloud of burned petroleum coke blanketed the area and blew into neighboring Windsor on July 27, 2013.

In February 2019, a malfunctioning flare from the facility released "horrific, stomach churning odors" that forced some residents to stay indoors.

"[21][26] The refinery has received permission for an expansion of its facilities and has sought to buy out properties in the Oakwood Heights community.

The neighborhood of Oakwood Heights once contained about 500 homes, but large areas and entire blocks have been bought out and demolished.

A similar offer was requested but not granted to the Boynton community, which has few major industries itself and is mostly separated from the facility by Interstate 75 and Fort Street.