John R. - Watson Park

Thanks to the addition of three vacant parcels adjacent to the park, John R. Watson is now twice its former size!  The expanded property is a 1.1 acre neighborhood park located at 202 Watson St within the Brush Park Historic District  in Council District 5 near downtown Detroit.  

JOHN R-WATSON PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

PROJECT UPDATE:

Due to many unforeseen setbacks this project has taken much longer than normal. Unfortunately, some of the setbacks are related to the project management of the site by the contractor and some issues are related to the required utilities. The water tap took months longer than normal, however we are finally over that hurdle and have the irrigation system installed. The site will be rough graded, excess soil and debris removed, then fine graded with top soil, and hydro seeded by mid October. Additionally, the lighting will be installed by the end of October. 

PAST UPDATES: 

Back in 2018, GSD began collaborating with the Brush Park CDC to conduct a rigorous collaborative design process for improvements to John R-Watson Park. Unfortunately, due to the Pandemic, the City of Detroit reallocated the project funding toward emergency measures.  Then, in 2022, GSD requested for funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to complete the project.  Once the funding was approved, GSD went right back to work in making this concept a reality. Construction will soon commence at the park that is anticipated to be complete by the end of the year.

Improvements will include improvements to the lawn, a concrete walkway system, planting and shrub beds,  ornamental and shade trees, brick piers, benches, upgraded park lighting, a playground with swings, and a nature play/sensory zone.
 

PROJECT MANAGER CONTACT INFORMATION:

Juliana Fulton, Deputy Chief Parks Planner

John DeRuiter, Assistant Chief of Landscape Architecture