Southwest Detroit's Weiss Park Receives A Make-Over

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

By Lori Ella Miller, Detroit LISC Scribe

The Urban Neighborhood Initiatives (UNI), formerly Neighborhood Centers, Inc., has embarked on a collaborative effort with other Southwest Detroit organizations and area residents to redevelop and transform Southwest Detroit’s Springwells Village. This collaborative effort is instrumental to the overall comprehensive strategy being led and coordinated by the Southwest Detroit Development Collaborative (SDDC).

Green space development is a key building block in UNI’s plan that is designed to impact housing rehabilitation, infrastructure and quality of life improvements. UNI has identified, and is currently investing in five Southwest Detroit parks, including Weiss Park – located across from the historic Woodmere Cemetery.

Quality open space is vital to the health of a community. Neighborhood green spaces and parks help to attract new residents and businesses, and bring stability to the community.

“We realize that parks have a tremendous impact on the neighborhood, particularly on the development of youth in the community,” said UNI’s Executive Director Dennis Nordmoe. “It can have a huge impact on how residents feel about investing in their own neighborhood.”

Before moving ahead with a renovation plan for Weiss Park, UNI held community meetings with residents from the Woodmere neighborhood to learn how the park would best meet the community’s needs. After conceptualizing a clear plan for transforming the park, Nordmoe was able to secure funding from a variety of sources, including the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, The Kresge Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities and Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).

Working with the Detroit Department of Recreation and local landscape architect Cynthia Silveri, UNI created an exciting new community park and play space concept that fully engages handicapped persons and stands as a model for immersing children with disabilities in the recreational experience.

Photo Caption: Newly renovated Weiss Park features unique equipment that is accessible to the disabled, including a slide with a wheel chair ramp.

After several years of planning, fund-raising and renovating, the park is near completion. The obsolete and unsafe features have been removed and replaced by a new play area, complete with a unique climbing wall that is accessible to the disabled. Other additions include tire swings, spring toys, a basketball court, and a slide with a wheel chair ramp. There are also plenty of tables, benches and green spaces. The park will also feature a unique drum circle with a variety of drums and instruments for creating music.

Photo Caption: The innovative design of Weiss Park's Rock Climbing Wall will immerse all children, including children with disabilities, in the recreational experience.

Recently, UNI invited area residents to a community gathering in the park to acquaint them with all the new features and announce that the park will be completed next spring. A group of the young and young-at-heart assembled on a crisp autumn day to enjoy hot cider and donuts, and express their appreciation for the new park. Ronald Andrews, who lives across from the park on Mandale, was on hand. Andrews said that his two-year-old son would be the third generation in his family to play in this park.

“Weiss Park has a great deal of historical meaning to me and my family…that’s why I want to help save it,” Andrews added.

Photo Caption: Springwells Village resident Ronald Andrews reminisces about climbing this tree in Weiss Park when he was a youngster.

Other area supporters who attended were Marion Bloye from Bridging Communities; Jessica Smith, legislative aide to State Representative Rashida Tlaib; and Springdale-Woodmere Neighborhood Block Club President Esteban Castro.

The neighborhood park was named after fallen WWII war hero Carl W. Weiss, a Detroit native who grew up just a few blocks from the park. UNI hopes to raise additional funds to erect a memorial in the park in his honor.

“This park is a part of a strategy for rebuilding the neighborhood,” said Nordmoe. “We plan to surround it with other investments that will ripple through the community and have a positive impact.”

UNI continues to enhance the city park. It has partnered with The Greening of Detroit, which planted 19 new trees in Weiss Park. The trees will add shade and beauty to this serene urban environment.

Photo Caption: The renovated Weiss Park is a lush and green asset to the community.

The renovated Weiss Park will make its official debut at a formal dedication ceremony planned for May 2010. Mark your calendars!