From transforming overgrown lots into vibrant parks to creating safe spaces for play, leaders in Detroit are reshaping what it means to invest in community — one parcel at a time.
Detroit’s park revival isn’t just coming from city initiatives — it’s being driven by residents and nonprofits who are reclaiming neglected spaces for the people who live there. Daniel Washington, founder of NW Goldberg Cares, has created multiple community parks on Detroit’s west side, including Art Park, Spotlight Park, and Holland Maze Literacy Park. Each space serves a unique purpose, from literacy programming to live performances, and all are designed to reflect the needs and dreams of the surrounding neighborhood.
These efforts are not isolated. From Camp Carpenter in Hamtramck to 360 Park in Virginia Park, community members like Faina Lerman, Graem Whyte, and George Adams Jr. are investing their own time and resources into building parks that provide dignity, joy, and connection. Their parks double as canvases for creativity, places for kids to play safely, and catalysts for neighborhood revitalization — with ripple effects that include rising home values and stronger community bonds.
These leaders prove that public spaces don’t have to be public property — they just have to serve the public.
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Detroit’s privately owned parks make a big difference for their neighborhoods – Metromode
