Splash pad, plaza on the way for southwest Detroit's Clark Park

A splash pad, a zocalo — or traditional Mexican public space — and other amenities are coming to the popular Clark Park in southwest Detroit, as part of a greater transformation of the West Vernor corridor.

The sweeping changes were provided to the Free Press ahead of a Tuesday evening community meeting where the city unveiled its ambitious neighborhood framework to residents.

"I think it’s real evidence that we’re going to look at neighborhoods comprehensively outside of the downtown core," said Maurice Cox, Detroit's planning director, adding the plan is the culmination of a lengthy community engagement process. "Clearly, this is our first effort in southwest to signal that the revitalization of the city is going to be in the neighborhoods."

The improvements are one of several in the pipeline for the city’s planning department to strengthen neighborhoods throughout the city, which wants to create "20-minute neighborhoods" where all goods and services are easily accessible on foot, bike or via public transit. Plans for the West Vernor corridor will likely begin implementation next year.

The proposed amenities are part of Detroit's initial Strategic Neighborhood Fund effort, which started in 2016. About $42 million in investment has already been committed to three areas: Vernor/Southwest, Livernois-McNichols and Islandview/Greater Village.

The city recently also announced plans to stabilize seven additional Detroit neighborhoods as part of a $130-million fundraising plan that would also improve commercial corridors and boost the city's park system.

In southwest Detroit, the zocalo and splash park were suggestions that came directly from residents, city officials said.

The zocalo could be home to markets, festivals and other events, according to the plan, which states the space would be lush with LED lighting and music. Overall, the city is planning to make $250,000 in lighting improvements at the park.

The open, paved space will be connected to a crosswalk/plaza along Vernor and the splash pad fountain will blend into the plaza.

Read more:

Cox said the planned amenities will help create a "front door" to the park, which he said is one of the West Vernor community’s most treasured locations.

"The recommendations that you’re going to see here are not the same for other areas," Cox said. "They're very specific to the cultural framework we're working in. You’ll see some recommendations that come from the predominance of the Latino community being in southwest. ... So (we're going to be) using public art that might say something about the character and heritage."

Council Member Raquel Castañeda-López, whose district includes the planned areas, said she believes the proposals contain many elements that embrace the "diverse and vibrant" community around West Vernor.

"Making sure every voice is valued during the next phase of community engagement is key to making sure that residents and businesses who are the fabric of the community will be able to stay in the area and benefit from the proposed projects," Castañeda-López said.

The city is also planning to install raised crosswalks with bump-outs, which are curb extensions used to slow down traffic, along Scotten and Clark Avenues.

The planned park improvements will cost about $2.1 million, according to Meagan Elliott, chief parks planner for the general services department.

"Our goal with one park in each of the strategic neighborhood areas is to create a destination amenity and a lot of that work focuses on lifting up the entire park system," Elliot said. "Clark Park is a really beloved park that is really well-utilized."

The plan also calls for redesigning a portion of Bagley Street to create a "shared street," which would essentially remove the curbs. The shared street would extend along two blocks of Mexicantown from 24th Street to the existing Bagley Pedestrian Bridge over the Fisher Freeway, according to the plan.

"The street design relocates stormwater drainage ... so that existing sidewalk and roadway surfaces can form a continuous surface," according to the plan. "In lieu of a curb, a combination of flagpoles, decorative light poles, and trees near the existing curbs would delineate the space for vehicles."

The plan also would incorporate overhead artistic lighting, plantings and outdoor seating.

Cox noted business owners along Bagley were initially concerned they would lose customer parking spots under the redesign but he said none will be removed.

Although pedestrian improvements were the focus, routine vehicular access will be allowed at most times.

Cox said the planning has been underway for about nine months.

"What you’re seeing is a framework of short-term actionable projects that will emerge," Cox said. "It's important to understand that our assumption is that those residents who are there are going to be the ones to drive the vision for how their neighborhood is going to grow and change."

Other top priorities within the plan are to:

Increase residential density along commercial corridors and stabilize existing neighborhoods in hopes of adding residents but also retaining families

Encourage the rehabilitation of residential spaces above retail properties along Springwells Street and West Vernor Highway.

Provide mixed-income housing along commercial corridors

Support new and existing businesses to help fill vacant storefronts through Motor City Match, the Detroit Economic Growth Corp and other means

Control truck traffic, revise land use, and establish buffers where appropriate near industrial corridors close to populated residential communities.

Implement West Grand Boulevard improvements, including lane re-striping, protected bike lanes, installation of painted bump-outs with flexible bollards, which are short, vertical posts, and signal timing improvements at Vernor Highway.

The city is also planning to launch a study to help define and enforce local truck routes in southwest Detroit, a major concern for residents for many years and now with the impending Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Cox said the planning department's growth from six planners to 35, who all have had a hand in neighborhood planning, is indicative of the city's focus on neighborhoods.

"We're going to be starting soon on Delray and Corktown and I think we’re going to keep rolling through the city until all neighborhoods start to feel the power of this revitalization," Cox said. "We're planning for the people who stayed. The whole premise is: Can we improve the quality of life for those who stuck it out? You can kind of see the pieces coming together."

Contact Katrease Stafford: kstafford@freepress.com or 313-223-4759.