City Seeks RFPs for Residential Development on Wigle Playfield.

[royce]

Curbed reported that the City of Detroit is seeking proposals for residential development on Wigle Playfield in Midtown [[Selden and Third Avenues). My question is, "Why take away the only sizable playfield in all of Midtown [[west of Woodward) for residential development when there are dozens of vacant lots and/or surface parking lots in the area?" Although Wigle Playfield was underutilized as an athletic field overall [[despite the fact that skate boarders had set up shop behind the demolished rec center), the influx of new residents from areas surrounding the playfield would definitely cause an increase in interest for such activities as softball, football, basketball, skate boarding, and other outdoor events.

I think it's very short-sighted for the City of Detroit to give up a playfield for private development, especially when there are no public recreational areas in Midtown the size of Wigle Playfield. Great neighborhoods have great parks and playfields. Wigle Playfield, remodeled as a park/playfield, not residential, could be a great asset to Midtown.