Detroit Begins $6M Remake Of Roosevelt Park

DETROIT — A $6 million transformation of Roosevelt Park in Corktown broke ground Tuesday, city officials said.

The plan, expected to be completed by spring 2023, will expand the park in front of the Michigan Central Station from 9.5 acres to 13 acres with new walkways, landscaping, an event space, seating areas and a pedestrian gateway entrance, according to a news release.

The renovations also include removing the existing roadway that has split the park in half and building a pedestrian gateway entrance at Michigan Avenue, connecting Michigan Avenue to The Station, the news release said.

To divert traffic away from the park, West Vernor Street will be rerouted to go around Roosevelt Park instead of going through it, the news release said.

"One of the biggest things driving our city’s revitalization is what we’ve done to create more and better parks and green space in our neighborhoods," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said. "In this area of Southwest Detroit alone, we just broke ground on the Southwest Greenway portion of the Joe Louis Greenway and the incredible Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park along the west Riverfront. This transformation of Roosevelt Park will be another major benefit to residents and visitors of this area of southwest Detroit."