Move your cursor over the park to see a vision of the future>>>>>>>>>>>

 

 

 

 

 

Roosevelt Park Expansion and Enlivenment Proposal

Detroit Project/Graduate Seminar, Professor David Chung and Witt Visiting Artist Franz John, University of Michigan School of Art & Design

I propose an expansion of Roosevelt Park coupled with an enlivenment of the site for recreational, ruminational, and practical purposes. What could be more practical and necessary than to provide an aesthetically pleasing outdoor area for urban residents to gather, chat, sit and read, play with children, walk with grandparents, and enjoy the exhilirating beauty of flowering trees, native grasses and winter hardy orchids?
 
<< This one too!

The Detroit Central Station: an astounding structure, both celebrated and denigrated. Its present state is a sad reminder not of Detroit's "demise" but of the railroading, forgive the pun, of the urban rail system. The building is horribly damaged. Despite remants of ornamental grandeur, the monolithic Station is sadly beyond repair in terms of any kind of economic feasibility. I have come to this conclusion despite my natural inclination toward restoration efforts, and long-time activism for the conservation of historical structures.
What lurks behind the shadow? >>
 

Roosevelt Park is a lovely, wide park area overshadowed by the Central Train Station, and hardly used by residents. The deterioration of the Central Station gives an undesirable aura to the park. In America we are not used to living amidst ruins, and now for safety reasons (or other), there is chain-link fencing topped by barbed-wire surrounding the building.

  
 
<<don't forget to move your cursor over the park for a vision of the future!<
 

 

I see a gorgeous, thriving park area, no longer in the shadow of the tall, foreboding Central Station. The Central Station should be deconstructed; ornamental pieces and architectural remnants could be auctioned off to raise money for the park - current owner willing, that is (there's the rub).

 
> check out this one > > > > >
 

The ground level entranceway of Central Station could be saved as a pavilion - similar to structures on Belle Isle. This would be subject to safety and feasibility analysis by qualified persons, including structural engineers.
Area gardening organizations (Master Gardeners of Greater Detroit, the Greening of Detroit, among others) and individuals with gardening expertise and/or skills would be invited to help create a special environment - which has been successfully done in other areas of Detroit such as along Milwaukee near the Tangent Gallery, just North of Woodward Avenue.
Another possibility for the Roosevelt Park Expansion and Enlivenment Project: wood benches and game tables crafted by Mitch Cope and Ingo Vetter's new wookworking company, Detroit Tree of Heaven which utilizes local "ghetto palms" as its main resource. "Ghetto palms" are non-native, aggressive, and often a nuisance; however, Cope and Vetter's wood products recycle the palms to great effect and beauty.
 
see one more vision^
 
 

Kite-flying, cartwheels, butterflies, picnics...autumn colors, winter walks, snow angels...good feelings for area residents and visitors.

What do you think?