Shaping Welcoming Public Spaces

WITH DOWNTOWN DETROIT PARTNERSHIP

Research, design, and community engagement to inform parks and public spaces programming.

The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) leads strategic initiatives that enhance public spaces, foster community engagement, and drive inclusive economic growth. As stewards of six public spaces in the heart of the city, DDP works to ensure these areas serve as welcoming, vibrant destinations for all. In 2018, The Work Department collaborated with DDP to develop a replicable engagement process to gather input on public space programming, creating a foundation for community-driven planning. We sought to reach a diverse cross-section of people—both regular visitors to Downtown’s parks and those from surrounding neighborhoods.

We designed and facilitated a comprehensive engagement strategy that would inform both immediate programming and long-term planning. Our approach included:

Research & Discovery: We conducted a literature review of best practices in community-centered public space engagement from cities across the country and held listening sessions with park visitors, Downtown business owners, programming partners, and nonprofit leaders.

Inclusive & Equitable Outreach: We prioritized accessibility by reaching a diverse range of people through multiple engagement methods and locations, from Downtown parks to neighborhood events. Activities were intentionally designed to reflect the city’s diversity and included bilingual feedback opportunities in English and Spanish.

Multi-Modal Engagement: We used a variety of methods to connect with a broad audience and gather meaningful feedback:

  • We attended public events such as Detroit’s annual tree-lighting ceremony and talked with attendees to capture real-time input 

  • Hosted “parklets” & pop-up spaces at public events such as Open Streets Detroit and Light Up Livernois, designed to spark conversation and invite feedback

  • Created a roaming Feedback Wagon to more easily navigate downtown spaces. The wagon featured interactive prompts and color-coded feedback boxes, making it easy for people to share ideas in different Downtown locations

  • Installed colorful vinyl clings on picnic tables, benches, and glass retail huts at high traffic Downtown areas, allowing people to respond to prompts at their own convenience.

  • Developed social media messaging and online surveys to expand outreach beyond in-person interactions.

After several months of engagement, we synthesized community feedback into a final report for DDP that outlined key learnings from the engagement process, provided recommendations for future community-driven programming, and summarized best practices for ongoing public space engagement. The insights gathered through this engagement process informed DDP’s long-term planning, helping to shape programming that is more responsive, inclusive, and reflective of the city.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Bree Gant