Mayor announces plans to revamp Detroit parks

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced plans to transform 40 parks and playgrounds throughout the city of Detroit.

According to city officials, it is all part of the renaissance taking place in the city within the past two years.

“So as we went out and told people what was going on.  We also said ‘guess what? We are also going to start a block club over here.  We want you all to join us in our efforts to revitalize our city,’ and many of them are saying, you know we haven’t had a block club in 20 years.  That would be great,” said District 1 manager Stephanie Young.

The revamped parks are one component in getting back an old sense of community in these neighbors.

Newly renovated Tuttle Park in the EL78 area has led the way and residents told 7 Action News kids now have a safe place to play.

“It would kind of keep them out of trouble,” said resident Elizabeth Kitchen. “You know, they would have somewhere to go instead of just running up and down the streets.”

“They have the walking track that we have taken advantage of. So it gives a lot of the neighbors as well as the children a chance to get out and do things that they haven’t been doing,” said resident Barbara Steegall.

The city is paying for $11.7 million project through bond money, going back to the 1980’s that was found from recent audits.

Residents say the renovations bring them a sense of hope.

“I envision the neighbors coming out, everybody working together, the children all getting along, having the basketball courts, just going to bring us closer together,” said Steegall.

Groundbreaking is expected to take place soon at ten of the parks.  hey will be completed in the next 18 months. The other 30 parks will be renovated in 2017.

Detroit residents are being invited to weigh in on the type of improvements and amenities they would like to see at each of the 40 neighborhood parks slated for renovations over the next 18 months during a series of community meetings beginning March 28.