February 06. 2010 11:12AM Detroit plans for alternate use of 92 parks

Land won't be actively marketed, but might be donated to nonprofits or swapped, city says

Christine MacDonald / The Detroit News

Detroit --The city is moving ahead with a controversial plan to dispose of as many as 92 underutilized parks, which could include sales or adoptions by nonprofits.

The plan was first pitched by former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who estimated that selling the combined 124 acres of parkland could net the city $8 million. But Mayor Dave Bing's staff said they aren't going to actively market the parks for sale.

If there are inquiries, staffers say they'll consider offers. But the goal is to find other uses, such as nonprofits adopting the parks or allowing urban farmers to use the land.

The city is also considering potential land swaps with entities such as the Detroit Public Schools.

"The strategy is not a wholesale selling of parks," said Alicia Minter, the city's parks and recreation director. "We are not shopping these around."

Typically, the city chose the parks because they were in areas where population dropped or where there are multiple parks, officials have said. If a park was sold or swapped, the plan would be to open up another park in a more viable area so that overall park acreage wouldn't be affected.

The City Council is expected to approve a parks master plan as soon as Tuesday, which lists the 92 parks as "repositioned." The plan has remained stalled for four years in part over concerns the parks would be sold. But Minter said the council would still have to approve any sales separately.

Most of the 92 parks have been sporadically maintained, including mowing, over the last several years, a move the city estimated in 2007 would save $540,000 a year. The city has 308 parks.

The plan could impact folks such as Bill Dowell, who lives on the west side across from Riordan Park, where most of the swings and equipment is broken. He took it upon himself this summer to mow the nearly 4-acre park. He wants it to remain a park, but said he's frustrated the city hasn't taken care of it.

"The neighborhood kids use it a lot," Dowell said. "They are always over there playing."

Councilman James Tate, who supports the master plan changes, said the council will closely scrutinize any proposals to sell parks, but the city needs to figure out how best to maintain the land amid a decline in population and resources.

"How do we best serve our residents' residential needs?" he asked.

Passage of the plan by City Council would allow the department to apply for state and federal grants, which require an updated master plan, Minter said.

cmacdonald@detnews.com [[313) 222-2396



From The Detroit News: http://detroitnews.com/article/20100...#ixzz0em9X5r1t

PDF for parks being considered for repositioning: http://download.gannett.edgesuite.ne.../0206parks.pdf