To provide the community with a passive park of its own.
$5,500+
Volunteer + Professional
Best
Grantee
2017
Part Sun
Vicki Holmes + Chelsea Neblett
Volunteer + Professional
Contractors and neighborhood residents
Ring Around the Garden
Hustling Lawn
Double Lot
15700 + 15706 Plainview Ave, Detroit, MI 48223
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.
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.
Yes
Beautification, to deter dumping, and to provide a space to relax and build community
GRDC entered into a lease agreement with the DLBA for site control of the lots until March 2020.
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.).
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.
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.
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.
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.