CREATING A COMMUNITY SPACE THAT CONNECTS TWO PATHWAYS & MANY FOLKWAYS
Leader
Kimberly Ewing
Location
Virginia Park Street and Seward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202
At a corner where blight challenges beauty, a team of neighbors set sight on clearing out blight,
to grow a space for community connection, celebration and collaboration.
Inspired by a common desire to live in a balanced, clean, and peaceful community— inner city Detroit
neighbors combined resources to break ground for an outdoor community gathering space .
Finding the location was easy, and seemed serendipitous. . This pocket park site sits at the corner of
Seward Avenue and Virginia Park Street. The neighbors leading this effort live on those streets, which are
still quite underdeveloped. As those who live in the midst of progress, we feel a need to take part in moving it forward.
Our first step upon receiving cash will be purchasing equipmentt to furnish the park, and plants to fill its flower, herb and vegetable garden. Our team will also be using funds to plan and promote an Open House Event for early spring, designed to0fficially introduce the Park and recruit more stewards. The initial IOBY backing also further empowers our efforts to secure additional financial support from more community stakeholders such as neighborhood development groups and corporate funders.. With the assistance of IOBY contributors we are launching of what we plan to be a truly sustainable, ever evolving community resource.
CULTIVATING COMMON GROUND TO PROTECT and NOURISH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS:
After obtaining city permission to adopt an unused utility property, homeowners from Virginia Park and renters from a senior apartment building on Seward Avenue began working together in transforming the property. Our first step was to clear out massive undergrowth. A thick growth of shrubs and small trees had created many shadowy hiding places for launching late night drug fueled crimes against our properties and persons. Those who felt most at risk are female neighbors with jobs requiring evening travel. Many elderly residents have been feeling vulnerable as well, even when out during the day, as they are known as easy prey among young pickpockets . Since cleaning out the undergrowth just a few weeks ago, we have noticed a marked decline in criminal presence in our area..