Detroit Parks Coalition Awards First Grants: $470,250 awarded to parks organizations across Detroit
The Detroit Parks Coalition (DPC) is pleased to award $450,000 for capital improvements that further healthy, equitable, and vibrant parks and public spaces in Detroit. Grants will support park improvements and amenities such as benches, trash cans, and wayfinding signs, ultimately improving experiences for visitors to Detroit’s downtown and neighborhood parks. The funding comes from a budget allocation from the State of Michigan.
The funding will be divided equally between DPC’s ten member organizations: Belle Isle Conservancy, Chandler Park Conservancy, Clark Park Coalition, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Downtown Detroit Partnership, Friends of Patton Park, Friends of Rouge Park, Midtown Detroit Inc., People for Palmer Park, and Sidewalk Detroit. Projects were selected directly by these organizations—a reflection of DPC’s commitments to advancing community voice and supporting grassroots projects in Detroit’s parks.
“The investments made by DPC add to the attractiveness of public spaces across the city, which are vital for our residents who live, work, and play in our neighborhoods,” said State Representative Joe Tate, a member of the Michigan House of Representatives Detroit Caucus and Democratic Vice Chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee.
The grants include:
$45,000 for signage and wayfinding for the Belle Isle Aquarium
$45,000 to purchase new furniture and shade umbrellas for Cadillac Square
$45,000 to update the sound board, stage lighting, and stage roof for public performances in New Center Park
$45,000 to develop trail connections, signage, and amenities for Rouge Park’s Joe Prance Recreation Area
$45,000 for amenities at Patton Park, to be allocated by a community advisory committee
$45,000 for benches, trash cans, wayfinding signs, and community kiosks in Palmer Park
$17,500 to improve Eliza Howell Park’s River Trail and install an ADA-accessible trailhead
$39,000 to convert the lighting at the Clark Park ice rink to LED and install additional lighting as necessary
$25,000 for landscaping and signage at the Chandler Park Skatepark
$22,600 to update signage and wayfinding on the Dequindre Cut
$22,400 to repair lighting in the Dequindre Cut Freight Yard
$17,500 to install a welcome kiosk and refreshed interpretive signage in Eliza Howell Park
$10,000 towards an outdoor education classroom in Chandler Park
$10,000 for equipment that will help Chandler Park Conservancy maintain the park
$10,000 for invasive species management and native plantings in Eliza Howell Park
$6,000 to upgrade the electrical boxes at the Clark Park recreation center, including the outdoor scorekeeping area
In addition to the capital improvement funding, DPC will allocate $20,250 to support member parks organizations’ operating expenses.
“Detroit’s parks organizations steward our green spaces and connect them to the surrounding neighborhoods and communities,” said Sigal Hemy. “These small improvements add up to a significant increase in quality of life throughout the city.”
