Wednesday October 28, 2015 @ 6:30 pm
IBEW Local 58- 1358 Abbot St 48226

https://www.facebook.com/events/1000003773374883/

Corktown is booming and really becoming a hotspot. But this historic land has to be developed right. Much of the plan seems good. But Police Athletic League [[PAL) is actually proposing to convert the field to artificial turf, which has the volunteer field crew [[Navin Field Grounds Crew) aghast.

And what are they going to do about parking for the new residents of the condos? What about all the land along Kaline Drive between Rosa Parks and Cochrane? It's just a bunch of gravel lots? Has PAL reached out to any of those property owners about building a parking deck or maybe putting another field there so they don't put nerf turf at Tiger Stadium?

The Tigers first played at the Corner in 1896 but the current layout of the field dates back to when Navin Field opened on the same day as Fenway Park in 1912. So if you happen to agree that Michigan and Trumbull should always be real grass, there is this change.org petition you can sign.
https://www.change.org/p/the-city-of...edium=copylink

I honestly think that if this land is developed right, it could make Detroit a major destination for baseball tournaments or other types of high school/college events. Maybe it would even help make a full renovation of Michigan Central station feasible. The field as is already has attracted tourists from all over the country and even overseas, according to the NFGC. I can't imagine it having that kind of draw and value if the lot is converted to a glorified carpet.