Greenway
Trail
Will
Ultimately
Link
Midtown
Detroit
to
Downtown
DETROIT
-
Construction
is
underway
on the
Midtown
Greenway,
a four
phase,
two-mile
greenway
trail
that
will
circle
through
Detroit’s
University
Cultural
Center,
Wayne
State
University
and
Medical
Center
and
Brush
Park
districts.
Today at
a press
conference
held at
the
Detroit
Institute
of the
Arts,
organizers
officially
broke
ground
to
signify
the
start of
the
first of
four
phases
of
construction.
When
completed,
the
linked
trails
will
provide
eight
miles of
continuous
greenways,
enabling
people
to go
from
Wayne
State
University
through
the
Eastern
Market
to the
Detroit
Riverfront.
The
Community
Foundation
for
Southeast
Michigan,
through
its
GreenWays
Initiative
program,
along
with The
Kresge
Foundation,
Michigan
Department
of
Transportation
(MDOT),
The
American
Recovery
and
Reinvestment
Act
(stimulus
funds),
Michigan
State
University
Land
Policy
Institute,
First
American
Title
Insurance
Company,
SAFETEA-LU
and
Woodward
Avenue
Action
Association
(WA3)
are
providing
the
funding
for the
Midtown
Greenway.
“We are
honored
to be
part of
the
collaboration
that is
helping
connect
Detroit,”
said
Mariam
Noland,
president
of the
Community
Foundation
for
Southeast
Michigan.
“Today
marks
the
start of
another
greenways
project
that
will
become
another
amazing
addition
to the
city. We
look
forward
to the
Midtown
Greenway
becoming
a
destination
for
families,
outdoor
enthusiasts
and
local
residents
to
safely
travel
and
enjoy
what our
city has
to
offer.”
“This
urban
greenway
will
offer a
safe and
convenient
route
for
pedestrians
and
cyclists,
and
encourage
exploration
of the
museums,
galleries,
restaurants
and
other
businesses
along
its
route,
transforming
Midtown
into a
more
walkable
community,”
said Tom
Woiwode,
director
of the
GreenWays
Initiative
of the
Community
Foundation
for
Southeast
Michigan.
A lane
of
traffic
will be
removed
on John
R in
Phase 1
to widen
the
walkway
and
reduce
traffic
speeds.
The
greenway
trail
will
have a
colorful,
patterned
surface
to
increase
visibility
and to
emphasize
the
creative
character
of the
neighborhood,
as well
as
improved
ADA
crosswalks
at each
corner.
Landscaping
with
three-season
interest
will be
used as
a buffer
to
separate
vehicle
traffic
from the
greenway,
adding
numerous
new
trees,
shrubs
and
perennials
to the
trail,
which
will
dramatically
green
the
environment.
New
wayfinding
signage
also
will
direct
visitors
to the
institutions
and
other
points
of
interest
located
along
the
trail.
Amenities
along
the Loop
include:
LED
pedestrian
lights,
light
wands
and
bollards,
as well
as
in-ground
spotlights;
dual
drinking
fountains
for
humans
and
dogs,
and dog
waste
receptacles;
bike
rings
and bike
lockers;
benches
and
trash
receptacles;
and
public
art at
designated
sites
along
the
trail.
“One of
our main
goals
with the
development
of the
Midtown
Greenway
is to
reclaim
the
rights-of-way
for
pedestrians
by
creating
a
widened
walkway,
improving
ADA
(Americans
with
Disabilities
Act)
crosswalks,
and
adding
pedestrian
traffic
signals,”
said
University
Cultural
Center
Association
President
Susan
Mosey.
“By
adding
such
amenities
along
the
route as
outdoor
seating,
pocket
parks
and
pet-friendly
features,
this
trail
will
contribute
to the
quality
of life
and the
lifestyle
of the
community.”
The
Community
Foundation
for
Southeast
Michigan
is a
permanent
community
endowment
built by
gifts
from
thousands
of
individuals
and
organizations
committed
to the
future
of
southeast
Michigan.
The
Foundation
works to
improve
the
region’s
quality
of life
by
connecting
those
who care
with
causes
that
matter.
The
Foundation
supports
a wide
variety
of
activities
benefiting
education,
arts and
culture,
health,
human
services,
community
development
and
civic
affairs.
Since
its
inception,
the
Community
Foundation
has
distributed
more
than
$415
million
through
more
than
35,500
grants
to
nonprofit
organizations
throughout
Wayne,
Oakland,
Macomb,
Monroe,
Washtenaw,
St.
Clair
and
Livingston
counties.
For more
information,
visit
www.cfsem.org.
Founded
in 1976,
the
University
Cultural
Center
Association
(UCCA)
was
organized
to
support
the
physical
maintenance
and
development
of the
Midtown
and to
enhance
public
awareness,
appreciation
and use
of the
area.
Today,
the UCCA
has over
60
members
representing
Midtown’s
cultural,
academic,
medical
and
service
institutions,
corporations,
businesses
and
community
organizations.
Over 300
representatives
from
member
organizations
actively
participate
in UCCA
activities
through
committees,
which
include
Community
Development,
Facility
and
Maintenance,
Beautification,
Security,
Collaborative
Programming,
Marketing,
and Noel
Night.
For more
information,
visit
http://detroitmidtown.com.
