Detroit Parks & Recreation learned a lot about what priorities residents have for their Detroit parks and recreation system. Below is a quick summary of the results of the survey with the top 6 goals. Scroll down to learn more about the next phase of the Parks & Rec Plan to join a focus group and stay involved. 

Goal #1 Focus on Maintenance: Advocacy & Stewardship
Well maintained, clean amenities and facilities were rated as the highest priority for residents, with 92% of respondents rating it as important or very important. However, there were mixed reviews of experiences with maintenance of parks, with:

• Positive - 41%
• Neutral - 22%
• Negative - 37%

Indicating there is work to be done to improve our maintenance programs. The majority of respondents, 60%, were part of a neighborhood organization, indicating an interest in park stewardship and continued advocacy on behalf of Detroit parks.

Goal #2 Ensure Access to Nature
In the nature and environment section the two highest priorities were: maintenance of natural spaces (with 92% rated as important or very important) and access to natural spaces (with 90% rated as important or very important).
And respondents reported that the main issues keeping them from using natural spaces were:

• Dumping / trash - 50%
• Not knowing know where natural spaces are near me - 48%
• Worry about visibility / sight lines - 36%
• Not knowing what to do in these spaces - 13%

Goal #3 Expand Fitness & Athletics
Year-round fitness opportunities was reported to be the third most important element to residents’ health and wellbeing in parks and rec., with 82% of respondents prioritizing it above physical health services, education on health/fitness and healthy food options.
Athletics was a top rated activity for parks (40%) and rec centers (43%), but may respondents also reported issues accessing athletics in neighborhoods, such as:

• Lack of information 65%
• Lack of options - 26%
• Lack of availability (timing) - 13%
• Cost/affordability - 8%
• Lack of transportation - 8%

Goal #4 Invest in Resilient Centers & Health
People reported wanting their rec centers to do more than before, to be resilient resource centers that adapt to people’s changing needs, that can serve as:

• Exercise/fitness center - 80%
• Space to connect with community members - 60%
• Youth center - 54%
• Adult education venue - 45%
• Resource center (for emergency distribution, etc.) - 44%
• Sports/athletic space- 43%
• Physical health services venue - 34%

Unsurprisingly, amidst a pandemic respondents reported public health as a vital component to the parks and recreation system. Priorities were safe social-distancing opportunities (83%), physical health services(62%), education on health (61%), healthy food options (59%), mental health services (46%), all of which were rated as important or very important.

Goal #5 Provide Safe Access
Residents reported that they want walkable access to parks, which feel safe.  Some concerns (in order of priority) were crime, blight and traffic along the route. And the majority of residents reported that they have walked (84%) or biked (66%) to their local park, and 88% reported having used a Greenway in Detroit, such as the Riverwalk or Dequindre Cut. 
 
Top reported priorities were:

• Walkable access to parks 91%
• Safe biking routes - 89%
• Trails for fitness opportunities - 88%
• Access for residents with disabilities and limited mobility - 83%
• Easy access (walkable or by transit) to rec centers 76%

Goal #6 Assess equity
The number one reason that keeps residents from using the Detroit parks and recreation system is lack of information about what is available. For parks 42% of all responses reported not using parks because they did not know what was available, for rec centers it was 63%, and rec programs were even higher, at 66%. Collaborative marketing and working together to get the word out about parks and rec is critical to addressing this barrier and ensuring equal access.

An essential goal throughout the survey was to provide a parks and recreation system that is welcoming to all. Along with Increasing awareness, other suggestions included Improving the permitting process, adding spaces/activities for teens, and ensuring safety without excluding groups.

What’s next? FOCUS GROUPS
The next phase of the Parks and Rec Strategic Plan is a series of focus groups based on the priorities identified in the surveys. 
If you are interested in joining one of the focus groups listed below, please follow this link:

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR A FOCUS GROUP

1. Maintenance & Stewardship
2. Nature
3. Fitness & Athletics
4. Health & Centers
5. Safe Access
6. Equity

Focus Groups are meeting through the end of July.

The next newsletter will be coming out later this summer with a draft plan and set of recommendations for public review. Current information can be found on the website at detroitmi.gov/parksplan

The city of Detroit will be installing speed humps this year.

For more information about speed humps, see the city's informational flyer.

To find out where speed humps will be installed during 2021, see District 5's Speed Hump List.

The DLBA’s Land Reuse Team would like to remind you that we are here to embrace our Neighborhood Lot Endorsers on our weekly Endorsement Office Hours sessions. Join us for program information and application revisions on Tuesdays, noon – 1pm; Zoom details have been listed below.

Zoom Details (Tuesdays, 12pm – 1pm)

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/96005062566

Or Telephone: +1 312 626 6799  or +1 646 558 8656

Webinar ID: 960 0506 2566

If you have any questions, please send an email to: landreuse@detroitlandbank.org. We look forward to seeing you!

Some great news to share – DTE/Focus Hope/IBEW are getting the final touches on a TREE TRIM ACADEMY to start up this Spring in the City. A 6-week training program to take place at Focus Hope (2-week work readiness), followed by 2 weeks of Tree Trim training, then 2 weeks Class B CDL training at the new DTE Tree Trim Academy (build out underway, located at 7800 Pearson, near Rouge Park).  Please share the attached flyer for the program. 

COVID-19 Vaccines are available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY for Detroiters 60+ at more locations in the Detroit community.

Call (313) 230-0505 Monday–Friday, 9 am – 6 pm to schedule.

Appointments are available at the following locations on: Saturday, February 27th and March 6th, 13th & 20th

• Fellowship Chapel - 7707 West Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48235
• Second Ebenezer - Church 14601 Dequindre St, Detroit, MI 48212
• Grace Community Church - 21001 Moross Road 
• Kemeny Recreation Center - 2260 S. Fort Street

By following this link you can stay up to date on the latest COVID vaccine info.  https://detroitmi.gov/departments/detroit-health-department/programs-and-services/communicable-disease/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-latest-updates

The following groups can schedule an appointment by calling 313-230-0505 Monday-Friday from 9 am until 6 pm: 

• NEW! A Good Neighbor who is age 55 or older who lives in Detroit or in Michigan, who drives a Detroiter age 60+ to the TCF Center vaccine site. The appointments must be made at the same time. Detroit residents may begin scheduling appointments at the TCF Center.
• Any resident of the City of Detroit who is age 60 or older (that means anyone born in 1960 or earlier).
• Childcare providers and K-12 school employees.
• Adult Foster Care caregivers.
• U.S. Post Office employees who live or work in Detroit.
• Employees of the City of Detroit or city-related agencies who are working from their regular job site. (Employees working from home are not eligible currently).
• Federal, state law enforcement officials who live or work in Detroit and report to a job site, such as FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshall, U.S. Attorney, State Police, and Michigan Attorney General.
• Active members of the clergy who live or work in Detroit and whose ministry brings them into face-to-face contact with congregation members. Bring ministry ID with you to appointment.
• Funeral home/mortuary services employees who live or work in Detroit. Bring pay stub/ funeral home ID with you to appointment.
• All food or beverage workers living or working in the City of Detroit: Grocery stores, restaurants, meat packing, food and beverage handling facilities.
• Security guards and janitors.
• All identified populations in Group 1A. Paid and unpaid persons in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials working in Detroit.
• Detroit residents 18+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities, caregivers of those residents and home healthcare providers if they travel in the same vehicle during the appointment. One live-in caregiver per resident. Evidence of condition required at appointment.

There will be no cost to individuals for the COVID-19 vaccination.

If you are in one of the identified groups to receive a vaccine, one caller can book for multiple people in your car.  You will need 6 pieces of information for each person when you make the call:

1. Name
2. Address
3. Date of Birth
4. Phone number
5. Email
6. Have you had previous allergic reactions to vaccines.

DEPSA School will be hosting a food bank with Gleaners. The distribution will occur on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 between 9 AM and 11 AM, no appointment is needed. DEPSA is located at 1903 Wilkins St. Detroit, Mi. 48207 near Eastern Market. Please see attached flyer.

Detroit residents may begin scheduling appointments at the TCF Center.

The following groups can schedule an appointment by calling 313-230-0505 Monday-Friday from 9 am until 6 pm: 

• Any Detroit resident 68 and older - proof of residency, utility bill or valid ID required
• Any “good neighbor"  65 and older who drives a 68 year old to TCF -  Valid ID required. 
• Any Detroit postal worker - Proof of employment, badge or employer paystub, required.
• The following Group B essential workers: K-12 teachers and support staff and child care workers - Proof of employment, badge or employer paystub, required.
• Federal, state law enforcement officials who live or work in Detroit and report to a job site, such as FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshall, U.S. Attorney, State Police, and Michigan Attorney General.

• Active members of the clergy who live or work in Detroit and whose ministry brings them into face-to-face contact with congregation members – bring ministry ID with you to appointment

• Funeral home/mortuary services employees who live or work in Detroit –bring pay stub/funeral home ID with you to appointment

There will be no cost to individuals for the COVID-19 vaccination.

https://detroitmi.gov/departments/detroit-health-department/programs-and-services/communicable-disease/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-latest-updates

City of Detroit makes plans to clean 2000 alleys in 2021

This year, the City of Detroit will clear brush and debris from at least 2,000 alleys across the city, an expansion of the alley cleanup program announced last year by Mayor Mike Duggan. The program expansion was announced at Mayor Duggan’s news briefing January 25.

The program was received overwhelmingly by residents, as nearly 500 block clubs signed up for the program through the Department of Neighborhoods. In 2020, 505 alleys were cleared, as City crews removed more than 4,000 tons of trash and debris.

The alley cleanup program provides residents with City assistance to address overgrown alleys in exchange for a commitment from residents to maintain and clean the alleys at least twice a year. The work performed at each location includes complete removal of everything in the alley including debris removal and tree and brush trimming. Some light grading work is also done to ensure alleys are leveled and passable.

As part of the program, the City will install gates at the ends of eligible alleys to prevent further illegal dumping. These sturdy wooden gates will be accessible to residents, emergency vehicles and utility workers.

Of the 39 City employees who make up the alley cleanup program, 13 are returning citizens. Plans call for the City to employ up to 65 individuals for the program. The City expects to clean roughly 2000 alleys per year over four years with an annual budget of $8 million.

For the next round, the City will select the alleys identified by block clubs or neighborhood associations registered with the Department of Neighborhoods, and that have completed the alley cleanup request form at detroitmi.gov/neighborhoods. To take part in the program, individuals in areas without a block club will need to organize a block club and get registered with the City.

After completing the alley cleanup registration, a community liaison meets with block club leaders to tour and survey the alley. Once an alley has been selected and cleaned, the block club must commit to maintaining the alley by performing additional cleanups, at least twice per year.

There will also be a sign-up page available for block clubs who are interested in the gates to receive a feasibility consultation. Once eligibility is verified and the City receives sign-off from block clubs, gates are installed.

https://detroitmi.gov/departments/department-neighborhoods

Dear Neighbors, 

Please find included a Parks Survey from the City of Detroit regarding usage of parks city-wide.  I encourage you to fill out this survey as soon as possible.

Also please note the HBEA has consistently emphasized to the City, in writing, on many occasions, that we view all Parks within the Boston-Edison District Boundaries to be of importance to all Boston-Edison residents and thus all residents will have input into those Parks. Therefore, please take that into account as you fill out the survey. 

To that end look for a separate survey from the HBEA Beautification Committee Parks Survey subcommittee that will be sent out in early 2021, asking for your input.

Again, please fill out the City survey, which is available on-line, as soon as possible.

Thank You.

Dianne (Bostic Robinson)

President HBEA

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF LETTER

from the city of detroit parks and recreation department:

let us know what you want for the future of parks & rec in detroit, take the survey!

Your input in this survey will help create the goals of the plan, which in turn shapes future investments in parks, greenways, recreation centers and programs.  Your input is essential to developing a vibrant park and recreation system in Detroit, so thank you.  

This survey on average takes approximately ten to fifteen minutes.  If you know anyone that needs help filling out the survey we are available to do surveys over the phone (languages other than English available with prior notice) 313-224-5555.

https://forms.gle/624Sfd5E6zsqEN2DA

find a park near you:

Explore Detroit parks through this web app.  

https://data.detroitmi.gov/app/park-finder

You can search where you would like to go and find the closest city parks, and filter by amenity to find what you would like to do in a park – such as a playground for kids, a walking path with a bathroom or a dog park.   

sign up for the parks & rec plan quarterly newsletters

Click on this link to subscribe and get information  

For more information on the Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan please visit the website or contact Juliana Fulton fultonj@detroitmi.gov  (313) 744-3202