How Detroiters Got Dozens Of Parks Reopened And Make The City Better For Kids

While Detroit’s systemic problems often seem too large to tackle — like an ongoing foreclosure crisis and a broken transportation system — others have simpler solutions. One such solution has made a huge difference for the city’s children, who now have a couple hundred more safe neighborhood parks than they did a year ago.

It’s thanks in part to church leaders who, along with other local groups, agreed to take responsibility for over 70 public parks and urged Duggan to make them a priority.

“We were able to [open the parks] in part because of the ministers in this community,” Duggan said earlier this month at his State of the City address. “I said, ‘What is one thing we can do for the young people?’ and they said, ‘You’ve got to get these parks open.’”

It’s also aligned with other Duggan initiatives that support the efforts of people already working to improve their communities, like a program that makes it easy for residents to buy vacant lots next to their homes for cheap.

“I’d rather have the city reach out to community associations, as opposed to [leaving parks] in distressed conditions where they become unsafe for children,” King said. “There used to be a time where you drove past a neighborhood park with the weeds being extremely high — we’re talking five, six feet — so I welcome it. I think it’s a good thing, and it helps bring the residents and the community together.”

Face painting at the Grandmont Community Arts & Crafts Fair. Courtesy Grandmont Community Association.

The Huffington Post