6 to 8 Mile / Woodward Park District Revitalization Plan

In recognition of its community initiatives and economic development work, the WA3 has been awarded an unrestricted $25,000 grant from the Charter One Foundation. 

 

The Champions in Action Grant will be used to help create  a Sustainable Living Corridor in the Park District, a gateway to the City of Detroit, located between Six and Eight Mile Roads.

 

Working with a dedicated group of Park District community leaders, civic partners, residents and businesses, the WA3 developed a vision for creating a Sustainable and Livable Corridor in the Park District. This vision resulted in the implementation of a multi-faceted plan to build capacity and garner funding for revitalizing the Park District. 
 
Key Revitalization Objectives:
 
The Park District Revitalization Plan focuses on five key pillars and objectives:
·         Organization and Communication - Promoting partnerships with businesses and stakeholders, community leaders, residents in order to grow capacity and foster sustainability.
·         Safety – Implementing strategies that promote well-lit and walkable areas in the Park District community.
·         Physical Improvement – Increasing beautification efforts and improvements to the streetscapes, as well as enhancing signage and decorative lighting.
·         Code Enforcement – Supporting greater emphasis on commercial property maintenance and upkeep; curbing litter with programs like Clean the D; removing graffiti and reporting illegal dumping.
·         Green Infrastructure -- Creating vibrant green spaces and community gardens, planting trees and implementing other beautification efforts.
 
Successes and Achievements:
 
The collaborative work of the WA3 and its community stakeholders has resulted in a number of important milestones and achievements, including:
·         A $25,000 Champion in Action Community Grant from Charter One Bank.
·         Installation of Woodward All-American Road district signage.
·         Plans to install and unveil 40 Park District commemorative street banners along Woodward Avenue.
·         A $50,000 City of Detroit CDBG grant for business facades improvements. 
·         A $20,000 Federal National Byway grant which funded the development and completion of The Park District Plan: a Vision for a Sustainable Livable Corridor plan.
·         A $15,000 facade grant from the City of Detroit Office of Neighborhood and Commercial Revitalization Program, resulting in the completion of a façade improvement for one of the Park District’s most popular restaurants, La Dolce Vita. 
·         Installation of 7 permanent, decorative streetscape planters filled with perennials and maintained by volunteer businesses.
·         A $1,000 contribution from Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative
·         A $2,500 contribution from Palmer Woods Neighborhood Association
·         A $3,000 contribution from Comerica Bank.
 
Contact Information:
 
The Park District Task Force holds monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at
8:30 a.m. at La Dolce Vita, located at 17546 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48203