Enhancing Public Spaces with Detroit Parks Coalition

WITH DETROIT PARKS COALITION

Event coordination and branding to support equitable and vibrant community parks.

The Detroit Parks Coalition is a network of over a dozen park-focused organizations advocating for accessible, well-maintained, and vibrant parks across Detroit. Together, they prioritize equity, investment, and community leadership. The Work Department has worked with the coalition for several years on program branding and event production.

Detroit Parks Summits

Since 2021, we have supported the planning and execution of four annual Detroit Parks Summits, each bringing together over 150 attendees, including local park organizations, city officials, and community stakeholders to discuss best practices, share resources, and strategize for the future of Detroit’s public spaces. These summits foster collaboration, encourage peer-to-peer learning, and equip participants with practical tools to enhance park stewardship.

Our role in the summits included:

  • Summit Planning & Design: Led structured planning meetings to develop summit themes, session structures, and key takeaways, ensuring a clear and focused approach.

  • Speaker Outreach & Materials: Provided streamlined templates for soliciting session proposals and coordinating with speakers. Designed and developed promotional graphics, event programs, wayfinding, and presentation templates.

  • On-Site & Post-Summit Support: Provide day-of site support and documented key insights and observations, capturing learnings to inform future programming. Designed and compiled post-summit reports to share best practices and strategic takeaways with stakeholders.

Pistons Neighbors Program

A partnership between the Detroit Pistons, the City of Detroit, and the Detroit Parks Coalition, the Pistons Neighbors Program activates public spaces through free recreational activities, park improvements, and community-building efforts. We developed a cohesive visual identity that balanced the Detroit Pistons and DPC branding elements while reflecting the program’s community-driven mission. The branding features friendly shapes, bright colors, and playful elements to communicate joy and inclusivity. To ensure a consistent and recognizable presence, we created logos and branded templates for promotional materials that align with the program’s goals and outreach efforts.

Through branding and design support, we have helped enhance the visibility of key DPC initiatives and create engaging materials that support public space activation and foster welcoming and inclusive parks for Detroit residents.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ian Solomon

Learn about our past work with the Pistons Neighbors Program.