Minock Park Block Association

To provide the community with a passive park of its own.

Cost

$5,500+

Participation

Volunteer + Professional

stormwater

Best

IMPLEMENTER TYPE

Grantee

INSTALLATION YEAR

2017

sun/shade

Part Sun

Lot Type
Hustling Lawn
Special Lot Condition
Project Name
Minock Garden

Minock Park Block Association

To provide the community with a passive park of its own.

Cost

$5,500+

Project Timeline

5/2017 to 6/2017

Project Leader(s):

Vicki Holmes + Chelsea Neblett

Participation:

Volunteer + Professional

Who Else Was Involved:

Contractors and neighborhood residents

Lot Design:

Ring Around the Garden

Lot Type

Hustling Lawn

Lot Size

Double Lot

Lot Address

15700 + 15706 Plainview Ave, Detroit, MI 48223


Before
After
Describe the overall process for transforming your lot.

The Minock Park Block Association, along with the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, held two visioning sessions with residents around how they would like to see the lots repurposed. It was decided that residents wanted a passive green space, and not something that would receive heavy use, as the lots are in the middle of a residential street. Most importantly, the residents wanted something that would be easy to maintain long-term, as volunteer engagement is difficult due to the small size of the neighborhood.

During the visioning sessions residents were asked to complete a survey and select planting and seating options for the lot. After the lot treatment selection and preferences were identified, GRDC hired a contractor to do the hardscaping portion of the treatment. The contractor work included clearing dead and unwanted trees, grading, removing a broken metal fence and building a mount around an already existing tree. Volunteers then assisted with the plantings, seeding, and spreading of mulch on two separate volunteer days.

Did you customize your lot design? If so, how?

Yes, the lot design was customized because there was already a desirable tree for the Ring Around the Garden Lot Design. Because of the existing tree, the grade was slightly different than the specified grade in the contractor package of the lot design. Additionally, residents did not want to plant as many trees as shown in the design because they wanted to maintain good visibility on the lot to deter illegal dumping.

Is your current project part of a larger plan, goal, or initiative within your community?

Yes

Purpose of the Project:

Beautification, to deter dumping, and to provide a space to relax and build community

Lessons Learned
Land Acquisition

GRDC entered into a lease agreement with the DLBA for site control of the lots until March 2020.

Skill Building

We gained a greater knowledge of plant species and their necessary maintenance, along with the knowledge of equipment needed to do the hardscaping (skid loaders, dumpsters, etc.).

Community Engagement

We flyered the whole neighborhood (over 300 homes) to inform residents about the visioning sessions and volunteer days for the lot treatment. The information was also sent out via email in the Minock Park Newsletter.

Fundraising

We have applied for two additional grants to be able to fund and install the second phase of the lot treatments. We also had support from the Grandmont Rosedale Vacant Property Task Force to pay for the lease agreement with the DLBA.

Other

What was challenging about this process, and how did you adapt?

Weather was a big challenge for us. There were many rainy days in the beginning when we wanted to begin the hardscaping, which pushed the contractors's timelines back, reducing the time available for volunteer planting days.

What is the maintenance plan for this project after its first year?

Maintenance will be a mixture of professional lawn care and volunteer efforts. The plan is to hire a neighbor to do the mowing, with assistance from volunteers for the weeding and other landscaping needs.