The Downtown Detroit Partnership is thinking about how to sustainably fund public parks and use more technology without becoming "Big Brother."

The nonprofit civic organization is working with public and private sectors on how to finance not just park creation, but the everyday maintenance and programming of anything from corner parks to large ones like Palmer and Rouge or connective greenways, DDP CEO Eric Larson said, speaking with Crain's ahead of the organization's annual meeting Feb. 12.

One consideration is a millage.

"Each one of (these parks) has to figure out a way that it fits together and is supportive of the overall system. Many communities have a regional funding source for public spaces. We don't," Larson said. "So that's some of what we're thinking about. Is there, similar to the Detroit Institute of Arts millage or the Detroit Zoo millage, is there a point at which this community not only responds but respects public space enough to say, 'We need to have a sustained funding source.'"

Taxes are one way to do it. Grand Rapids and Pittsburgh approved tax increases for parks in November. DDP mostly uses revenue and sponsorship, but those need to be continually raised, Larson said.

The consideration comes from an Urban Land Institute report on parks and open space. It ties into efforts in recent years by the DDP, the regional "no name CEO group," the city of Detroit and various prominent local companies to knit together a strategy for Detroit's parks, trails and public areas. But no formal announcement or conclusion has come yet.