Midtown "Central Park" Concept

[gthomas]

There's huge plots of vacant land bounded by Selden st. to the north [[Wigle Park), Third st. to the east, Fourth st. to the west, and Temple st. to the south. I ride my bike through there everyday and I see it use to be several parks there, was thinking of connecting it. It needs a major cleanup, trash removal, and man-power. I see a Organized Community Park ran by the residents of Midtown, it can bring the community cohesiveness for several new housing development[[s) in recent years and present in the area now [[Midtown Place, Woodbridge Estates, and Cornerstone Estates).

I notice more kids in my neighborhood more than ever this year so far. It will be great to see a "Gated" family park with benches, lush-landscaping, education program through the park, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, playground equipment, lawn areas, food court, small water feature [[for kids in summer month's), and a Dog Park. It will be safe, secured, equiped with security camera, well-lit, and cleaned.

Is there someone[[s) to contact to organize such thing, the only way to take my neighborhood back from drug addicts, violence, and illegal dumping is to create a place they're not wanted or feel uncomfortable around.

I believe man-power over politics..if we scream loud enough I think it's possible. If a huge number of resident in Midtown come together and create a concept, man-power, and donations.. anythings possible.

I've work with Greening of Detroit several times, also I have close tieds to several developer's and landscaper's who would love to do it on a volunteer bases, especially for the kids. The city would'nt have to worry about maintanence or cost, the only thing they will have to do is electrical work for installation of lights. Is this possible or is this too far-fetched..?

[gthomas]

http://www.uli.org/AwardsAndCompetit...anderWall.ashx

[Detroitnerd]

The breadth of the public spirit driving this proposition astonishes me.

[DetroitPlanner]

The biggest issue you're going to run into is funding. The Mayor has announced closing most of the current parks and rec centers. I doubt there is much political will to build another.

On the plus side, Midtown Loop is in the process of being completed and this would link well into it. A complete review of the area needs to be done first. Are there vital resources in the area? How about historic buildings?

Thirty plus years ago I had a similar idea as a young draftsman in High School. Things have changed quite a bit in this area since then. Surprisingly, most of it has been for the good. This area used to be a real dump back then.

[rex]

Imminent domain all of those old tenement/hotel/apartment buildings in the area that attract the transient and addict crowd. Pull out the streets and make it a park. Didn't I read or hear something about a hockey arena around south cass on the North side of the freeway? Illich or whoever buying up property around there... So a park and a stadium

[Bham1982]

Imminent domain all of those old tenement/hotel/apartment buildings in the area that attract the transient and addict crowd. Pull out the streets and make it a park.

Detroit has been doing this for 60 years now. Trying to tear out blight and old buildings useful to the poor. Perhaps we try something else.

[iheartthed]

Detroit has been doing this for 60 years now. Trying to tear out blight and old buildings useful to the poor. Perhaps we try something else.

I agree with this comment.

I'm also not sure how a private park fits in with the goal of revitalizing the city. That London has a private park in an affluent neighborhood is pretty irrelevant since London also has a ton of public spaces that are designed to be accessible by everyone. In fact, the public spaces are what make London an attractive place to live, not the private parks in affluent neighborhoods.

[DetroitPlanner]

Imminent domain all of those old tenement/hotel/apartment buildings in the area that attract the transient and addict crowd. Pull out the streets and make it a park. Didn't I read or hear something about a hockey arena around south cass on the North side of the freeway? Illich or whoever buying up property around there... So a park and a stadium

Eminent Domain!!

What you are proposing would never fly. 1. the transient/skid row is going to end up somewhere, prior to it being there, it was pushed off of Michigan Ave from Cass to Trumbull through urban renewal. 2. Environmental Justic would be used by current service providers to the transient populations if you tried to tear them down.

Gistok, all of the new parks built in Detroit are under private control. These include the Riverwalk and Campus Martius.

[Gistok]

Gistok, all of the new parks built in Detroit are under private control. These include the Riverwalk and Campus Martius.

That's true... the park in the Bedford Estates in London is fenced in and has private key entrance... more like the Grosse Pointe waterfront parks... where if you're not a resident... you're not getting in...

[Bham1982]

... more like the Grosse Pointe waterfront parks... where if you're not a resident... you're not getting in...

I'm just curious; how do the Pointes enforce this rule?

If I wander into a GP park off the street, how do they know I'm not a resident? They do random spot-checks or something, and your ID has to match a GP address?

I mean, that sounds like a massive waste of resources and a general pain in the ass for parkgoers.

[corktownyuppie]

I'm just curious; how do the Pointes enforce this rule?

If I wander into a GP park off the street, how do they know I'm not a resident? They do random spot-checks or something, and your ID has to match a GP address?

I mean, that sounds like a massive waste of resources and a general pain in the ass for parkgoers.

All of the public parks in GP have gated entry. Windmille Pointe Park, a public park in Grosse Pointe, rivals some country clubs...including gym facilities, olympic pool, movie theaters, and a marina. The only non-gated parks in the Grosse Pointes are the playing fields associated with the elementary, middle, and high schools.

So, no, there is no wandering into GP parks from off the street.

I don't object to the idea of asking residents to pay small admissions fees to the premier parks in Detroit. If Belle Isle just charged $2 per person in a vehicle, the place could be so much nicer.

[bailey]

I'm just curious; how do the Pointes enforce this rule?

If I wander into a GP park off the street, how do they know I'm not a resident? They do random spot-checks or something, and your ID has to match a GP address?

I mean, that sounds like a massive waste of resources and a general pain in the ass for parkgoers.

all of the public parks in GP have gated entry. Windmille Pointe Park, a public park in Grosse Pointe, rivals some country clubs...including gym facilities, olympic pool, movie theaters, and a marina. The only non-gated parks in the Grosse Pointes are the playing fields associated with the elementary, middle, and high schools.

So, no, there is no wandering into GP parks from off the street.

I don't object to the idea of asking residents to pay small admissions fees to the premier parks in Detroit. If Belle Isle just charged $2 per person in a vehicle, the place could be so much nicer

.

to also follow up.... you have to have a pass. Some of them are picture with barcode that gets scanned on entry, other cities it's just your name and address. you need to renew every year and the list is checked against property rolls.

It's most certainly not a waste as it functions to do exactly what the citizens ask of it...namely, ensure those pay for the facilities [[and their guests) are the the ones using the facility.

[Gistok]

Eminent Domain!!

DetroitPlanner....we may have inadvertently coined a new phrase here....

Imminent Domain may be taking of land for things such as the current expansion of Cobo Hall.

Eminent Domain may be for "eventual" taking of land for the on-again off-again new DBIC bridge, or for the perpetually postponed expansion of I-94 from 3 to 4 lanes.

LOL....

[gthomas]

Well if anyone[[s) is interested having a meeting to discuss our option[[s) or steps for the concept, if any. Please email me: gtrip313@yahoo.com for more information on where to meet and discuss plans. If all we can do is grab garbage bags, racks, and shovels for start that will be great. It does'nt make sense on the amount of debri and trash everywhere and no one seems to care but me. I will go out there by myself if need be..I want to start this by spring, hopefully by March or April.

[Gistok]

Interestingly enough the concept of a private "public" park within Detroit goes against the grain of many Detroiter's of all walks of life [[euphemistically speaking)... but in London's Bedford Estates posh part of the city, there is a private park that is available only to the upmarket residents of the town houses surrounding the square [[for an annual fee).

This helps maintain the park [[the fee that is), and keeps the riff-raff out of the park for the neighborhood residents to enjoy undisturbed....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Be...er_in_1966.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_Square

Of course this seems rather elitist to many folks here.

One of my favorite parks in Detroit happens to be Grand Circus Park. However I usually avoid it, unless I have to traverse it from the NW to the SE. It's almost like playing a gave of Pac-Man, where you choose your route carefully so as not to run into any panhandlers, if possible. A brisk pace always helps.

[corktownyuppie]

Of course this seems rather elitist to many folks here.

The fact that it seems elitist is part of the problem. I'm in favor.

[Ravine]

The fact that it seems elitist is part of the problem. I'm in favor.

Unless I mis-understand you, I quite agree [[although I have no stance in re: the park idea itself.)

The ones who would most vigorously wail & gnash their teeth are the ones who also would be the most likely to feel perfectly OK about raising hell in such a park and leaving their goddam trash all over it, so fuck 'em.

[corktownyuppie]

Unless I mis-understand you, I quite agree [[although I have no stance in re: the park idea itself.)

The ones who would most vigorously wail & gnash their teeth are the ones who also would be the most likely to feel perfectly OK about raising hell in such a park and leaving their goddam trash all over it, so fuck 'em.

Yes, Ravine, exactly

[gthomas]

Interestingly enough the concept of a private "public" park within Detroit goes against the grain of many Detroiter's of all walks of life [[euphemistically speaking)... but in London's Bedford Estates posh part of the city, there is a private park that is available only to the upmarket residents of the town houses surrounding the square [[for an annual fee).

This helps maintain the park [[the fee that is), and keeps the riff-raff out of the park for the neighborhood residents to enjoy undisturbed....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Be...er_in_1966.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_Square

Of course this seems rather elitist to many folks here.

One of my favorite parks in Detroit happens to be Grand Circus Park. However I usually avoid it, unless I have to traverse it from the NW to the SE. It's almost like playing a gave of Pac-Man, where you choose your route carefully so as not to run into any panhandlers, if possible. A brisk pace always helps.

Interesting, now I can see some rowhouses, brownstones, lofts..etc. east of my concept area, Cornerstone Estates is to the west. Then the concept park will be surrounded by housing and not crack addicts and trash.

NSO will be re-locating the area once the "Yellow Page" building is finished. That will tackle the wondering homeless people in the area. It's a start to connect Downtown to Midtown. Then ChinaTown district can be re-created east of this development from Cass to Third st, off Peterboro st.

[Jason]

That doesn't look like a bad spot for a good park, but the entire west side, and the corner to the north east don't have very good buildings, so even if the vacant land on the other sides of the park were developed, it still wouldn't be a strong urban park.

It's a shame all of those big sites in midtown have been developed so poorly. The projects have enough units that if they arranged them better, new, quality urban spaces could have been created, but instead it's all dumpy suburban development. I'm not sure if the city requires those kinds of site plans [[because all development like that in Detroit has almost the exact same pattern), or if the developers are doing it because they don't know how to do anything else.

[Modusvivendi]

Interesting proposal. Detroit needs more people like the OP.

And yes, the private park concept is not uncommon in London. I used to live in the earls court / south kensington area and there were tons of them. They all seemed very well maintained. Thereagain, even the public parks in London are immaculate.

[Ravine]

You must mean the Canadian London, eh?

[gthomas]

So what is there to do in order to get something done? I'm not about to sit back behind this keyboard and complain for years, like most on Detroityes. Money is an issue, but if every Midtown resident and businesses donate money, supplies, and man-power I think it can be done without taxing or other intities. The resident of Midtown will come together to create a concept, costs, maintanence, construction [[if possible)..theres no infrastructure in the concept area, but trash and crack addicts. Zoning may be a concern, that's about it..I believe?

I want to come together and have a public meeting in Midtown soon to discuss more, if your interested or know any specific steps in order to make this happen contact me : gtrip313@yahoo.com

We can use re-claimed wood for benches or other playground equipment, contact Lowes or Home Depot to see if they can donate anything. I'm going to call Greening of Detroit to see if they can donate trees, shrubs, evergreens, flowers..etc

There's plenty of designer's [[including me), architect's, gardner's..etc that are resident of Midtown who would'nt mind helping this come to fruitions. It's a start..

[corktownyuppie]

So what is there to do in order to get something done? I'm not about to sit back behind this keyboard and complain for years, like most on Detroityes. Money is an issue, but if every Midtown resident and businesses donate money, supplies, and man-power I think it can be done without taxing or other intities. The resident of Midtown will come together to create a concept, costs, maintanence, construction [[if possible)..theres no infrastructure in the concept area, but trash and crack addicts. Zoning may be a concern, that's about it..I believe?

I want to come together and have a public meeting in Midtown soon to discuss more, if your interested or know any specific steps in order to make this happen contact me : gtrip313@yahoo.com

We can use re-claimed wood for benches or other playground equipment, contact Lowes or Home Depot to see if they can donate anything. I'm going to call Greening of Detroit to see if they can donate trees, shrubs, evergreens, flowers..etc

There's plenty of designer's [[including me), architect's, gardner's..etc that are resident of Midtown who would'nt mind helping this come to fruitions. It's a start..

GT, your heart's in the right place. Your strategy needs some help. The most effective way to get this on the ground is to successfully recruit 3-5 people who are influential in the community and can influence manpower and/or money. If you try to do both by yourself, then you'll burn out.

Find 3-5 people who are well-connected, well-respected, or have access to funding. Invite them for coffee or dinner. Brainstorm among that group. Then something can be done. And if you don't know anyone like that, your first job is to become one by demonstrating leadership in already existing causes. There are already plenty that need help and are doing amazing things. Detroit's a small world. If you can make a name for yourself by getting results, you'll join the elite few who have been able to get things done. You recruit them in this cause and things will happen mighty quickly.

[illwill]

gthomas,

I always tell myself, when [[or if) I return to the Detroit, you'll be the first person that I contact once my boots hit the ground.

A real person of action!