Harmonie Park

[DetroitZack]

The other day I noticed a fence all around Harmonie Park. Does anyone know what all they are doing there?

[Gsgeorge]

Parking lot.

Just kidding. They're refurbing the park as part of a bid to relabel the area "Paradise Valley". Some kind of African-American specific district ala Hastings Street.

I'm all for civic improvements, but it'll always be Harmonie Park to me.

[DetroitDad]

So what ever happened with this? The fence is long gone now, and Harmonie Park is open again. Did any improvements actually happen? Last I heard, the old council was outraged with the ridiculous art statues that were never installed.

[Historyguy]

I agree with Gsgeorge, the Harmonie Park name should be preserved.

[sumas]

How can a community ie politicians rename [[re write) history? Easy, it's done all the time as in renaming streets and parks. Sad really.

[rjlj]

Not to mention, Harmonie Park is such a cool name. Now lets see how the city fumbles with Capitol Park.

[GOAT]

Ahh yes. Branding and districting....

It works ONLY if the branding of teh area coincides with what really goes on there. The same with districting large areas. To make fake and false names of places is down right stupid and misleading. It usually never sticks and is doomed to failure.

In Windsor the DWBIA has done that same thing a few years ago and I have to say it is something to be desired. In fact is makes no sense as to what exists in these so-called districts.

http://www.downtownwindsor.ca/dwbia_map.php

I laugh my ass off at the "West Village" district. It is one street that has little to no residents on it. This BS is worth nothing.

[kathy2trips]

The Harmonie Park name should be preserved. This area has a specific cultural history that should be respected. The real Paradise Alley got speared by the freeways.

[DetroitDad]

Not to mention, Harmonie Park is such a cool name. Now lets see how the city fumbles with Capitol Park.

Harmonie Park seems like a fitting name for the neighborhood surrounded by music and performing arts theaters.

I was a supporter of the Paradise Valley concept, but always thought the location they picked was a bad choice. Something like this may have done a little bit better in the cultural center of Midtown, maybe as part of the Midtown Loop, maybe between the African American Museum and the Detroit Science Center, since there you would be able to also be visited by schools and people into exploring cultural heritage, not drunk tailgaters and sports fans on their way from the casino.

Harmonie Park, on the other hand, should never have been the target of a made up theme. Greektown, Chinatown, and Mexicantown all have significant history behind their names. Downtown Detroit is not Disney World, and really doesn't need to be themed like the World Showcase. What Detroit really needs in order to be attractive to people in general, but especially young professionals and families of many races and backgrounds, is good urban places and neighborhoods, that don't require a gimmick other than their own rarity in Michigan. A good urban area is what Harmonie Park was becoming. Instead of boosting Harmonie Park into something as authentic as Mexicantown, they decided to attempt something as authentic as Taco Bell. This was apparent in the inability of the council to convey their own vision to artists and planners, and instead ended up with abstract objects "as interpreted by the artist as they see it in their mind".

Attachment 6647Fortunately, this is the only picture I could find still on the Internet.

[fryar]

I completely agree, Harmonie Park is a pretty little district, there's no need to artificially inflate it. I don't know what their game plan was, but it seems pretty ridiculous to pick Harmonie Park of all places.

Maybe people have been confusing downtown with Disneyland on account of the tram? ;-)

[detroitsgwenivere]

The Harmonie Park name should be preserved. This area has a specific cultural history that should be respected. The real Paradise Alley got speared by the freeways.

I told JoAnn Watson the same thing and she went off on me. Apparently, the argument is that the area was part of Paradise Valley before being named H Park, according to her. And then the "white establishment" took it over .

I've seen two different maps that reflect two different groups occupying that spot at the same time, so I'm confused about this. Anyone have any insight?

[EastsideAl]

I told JoAnn Watson the same thing and she went off on me. Apparently, the argument is that the area was part of Paradise Valley before being named H Park, according to her. And then the "white establishment" took it over .

What a deeply ludicrous assertion. Harmonie Park was named for the adjacent Harmonie Club [[building still standing) built in 1894, which was a singing and social club originally founded by German-Americans, There were several other established parts of Detroit's German-American community nearby for many decades.

There were indeed several black establishments nearby as well, particularly to the east, and Paradise Valley did come pretty close to Harmonie Park, but Harmonie Park was never part of Paradise Valley. I'm not at all unsympathetic to those who still mourn the loss of Paradise Valley, or to the feeling that perhaps the name should be kept alive somewhere in the center of the city, but rewriting history really isn't the way to go.

[kathy2trips]

What a deeply ludicrous assertion....I'm not at all unsympathetic to those who still mourn the loss of Paradise Valley, or to the feeling that perhaps the name should be kept alive somewhere in the center of the city, but rewriting history really isn't the way to go.

Yes, thank you. Many neighborhoods of all ethnic varieties were decimated by the expressways. The detroityes archives are full of stories; warning: tissues recommended. Some of these are really tough to hear. That being said, the 20th century was a golden age for ethnic-owned businesses, including Black entrepreneurs. The isolation of ethnic communities became a business opportunity. This enriched not only each specific neighborhood, but adjoining areas as well. My Italian nonna went to the Italian butcher...except for lamb. The Lebanese butcher had the best lamb, she said. Perhaps this is what they had in mind when re-creating Paradise Alley, and it's really an admirable ambition. Surely there's a good spot around here somewhere. Tons of vintage storefronts to choose from! I agree that it would be insensitive and irresponsible to hone in on another intact, historically ethnic enclave. Maybe they should resurrect a minority neighborhood also, since Blacks are the majority in Detroit. It would be an excellent show of goodwill and acceptance to the minority population. Hmm? How about the German heritage of Harmonie Park, a la Frankenmuth? Too commercial? It would be a fun tourista locale = $

[English]

I always thought Harmonie Park would be great for an outdoor music venue. Good jazz, blues, other kinds of music establishments... playing up the "harmony" part of things...

Oh wait.

[Gistok]

I told JoAnn Watson the same thing and she went off on me. Apparently, the argument is that the area was part of Paradise Valley before being named H Park, according to her. And then the "white establishment" took it over .

I've seen two different maps that reflect two different groups occupying that spot at the same time, so I'm confused about this. Anyone have any insight?

I'm curious to know where the 1849 founded Harmonie Club was located from 1849 until the construction of their 1894 club house on that park?

I also wonder what the park/district was called before 1894?

[fryar]

You had me rolling in the aisles, English.
It is a good place for outdoor music, though not the way you mean. One of the restaurants there would have a large outdoor area with singing and dancing duirng the summer. I don't know if they're still there, but it looked like a real nice spot for a romantic dinner, or drinks after the Opera or what-have-you.
Harmonie Park already has its act together, as far as I was concerned.

[EastsideAl]

I'm curious to know where the 1849 founded Harmonie Club was located from 1849 until the construction of their 1894 club house on that park?

I also wonder what the park/district was called before 1894?

According to the Wikipedia article on the Harmonie Club, in 1874 they built a wood frame clubhouse at the corner of Lafayette and Beaubien that burned down in 1893.

Before it was Harmonie Park that triangle was known as Centre Park for the adjacent Centre [[or Center) Street, as can be seen on any number of old maps.

[English]

You had me rolling in the aisles, English.
It is a good place for outdoor music, though not the way you mean. One of the restaurants there would have a large outdoor area with singing and dancing duirng the summer. I don't know if they're still there, but it looked like a real nice spot for a romantic dinner, or drinks after the Opera or what-have-you.
Harmonie Park already has its act together, as far as I was concerned.

I agree. I thought there was a restaurant there that has weekend concerts/music in the park. Now that the Fish Market is closed, I hope they find another taker for that space soon.

I don't think Harmonie Park should be Paradise Valley, at all. What they should be doing is taking parts of say, North Brush Park and developing that... didn't Orchestra Hall used to be the Paradise Theatre? Or am I misremembering my grandfolks' stories?

[EastsideAl]

didn't Orchestra Hall used to be the Paradise Theatre? Or am I misremembering my grandfolks' stories?

You're remembering them correctly.

[Zacha341]

What a wonderful photo -- I love music from the Duke. I love this site for the unusual photos that come up without notice. Thank you!

You're remembering them correctly.

[DetroitZack]

Some pictures from the other day.

[DetroitZack]

[DetroitZack]

[fryar]

Looks nice. Thanks for posting those. I did think they could have left it at Harmonie Park, but it looks like they did a nice job with it, so whatever. Hats off to Germantown/Harmonie Park/Paradise Valley.

[DetroitDad]

Admittedly, I haven't gone down there since it reopend. I'll be sure to do that this weekend. The new cement engravings are a nice addition, from the photos. It appears from the photo that they also paved over the fountain?

What was always great about the more recent Harmonie Park outdoor room/park, was how the park was in a fairly busy area, but you were able to feel secluded in it. The fountain mimicked the sound of a babbling brook, and blocked out much of the big city noise.