AB Ford Park

This is the page for the AB Ford Park Improvement Project (Outdoor Construction Phase)

 

 

AB FORD PARK IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION.

The Community Center at AB Ford will remain open normal hours. Find out more at detroitmi.gov/ABFord

 

 

 

FOR QUESTIONS OR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PARK CONSTRUCTION, PLEASE CONTACT:
PARK CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER

Arianna Zannetti, Assistant Chief Landscape Architect 

[email protected] | 313.236.8805

 
PLEASE DIRECT ALL ENVIRONMENTAL INQUIRES TO BSEED- ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS:

Crystal Rogers

[email protected] | 313.471.5115

 

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The AB Ford Park Improvement Project is a major renovation funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Strategic Neighborhood Fund.  With construction of the Community Center at AB Ford complete, this phase of construction focuses entirely on outdoor recreation. Along with site improvements to provide better drainage and connectivity to and through the park, new landscaping, play amenities, sports courts, and outdoor gathering spaces are being added to provide a wider variety of park users with a more enjoyable waterfront experience.

PARK CONSTRUCTION PLAN

Park improvements to AB Ford Park

PARK CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE

Timeline for construction at AB Ford Park- starting now ending Fall 2024

Got questions about the project?  Want an update? Come see us for lunch on Wednesdays!

The project team will be holding weekly virtual office hours every Wednesday from 12 noon to 1:00pm and every 2nd Wednesday evening of the month from 5:00pm to 6:00pm.

CLICK HERE TO CONNECT VIA ZOOM

Office Hours for AB Ford Construction Project WEEKLY WEDNESDAYS 12-1PM MONTHLY 2nd WEDNESDAYS 5-6PM Click here to enter.

NEW DOCUMENTS

March 2024

Members of the community recently submitted questions on the AB Ford Park Improvement Project to the Administration.,  Please find the response below along with the tree inventory for AB Ford Park.

AB Ford Park- Community Questions Response

AB Ford Park- Tree Inventory

RECENT MEETINGS

  • THURSDAY, FEB 29, 2024
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PRESENTATION

 

  • THURSDAY, FEB 20, 2024- DISTRICT 4 DONCAST
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PRESENTATION!

 

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS

Timeline of environmental testing at 100 Lenox (AB Ford Park Site)
DOCUMENTS:
2021 Phase 1 Site Assessment

https://detroitmi.gov/document/100-lenox-ab-ford-phase-1-esa-sept-2021

2021 Hazardous Material Report

https://detroitmi.gov/document/100-lenox-ab-ford-hazardous-materials-report-sept-2021

2022 Limited Phase 2- Lenox Demo

https://detroitmi.gov/document/100-lenox-ab-ford-limited-phase-2lenox-demo-aug-2022

2022 Due Care Evaluation- Lenox Demolition

https://detroitmi.gov/document/100-lenox-ab-ford-dcelenox-demo-sept-2022

2023 Delineation Report-Park Construction

https://detroitmi.gov/document/100-lenox-ab-ford-delineation-report-nov-2023

2024 Due Care Evaluation- Park Construction

https://detroitmi.gov/document/100-lenox-ab-ford-dcepark-feb-2024

 

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Alfred B. Ford Park is a 34-acre park located at 100 Lenox St on Detroit's east Riverfront in the Jefferson Chalmers Neighborhood of District 4.  The site is shared with the new Community Center at AB Ford which is NOW OPEN!   

More history coming soon.

JEFFERSON CHALMERS NEIGHBORHOOD FRAMEWORK PLAN

In 2019, the City of Detroit Planning & Development Department embarked on the planning process for the  Jefferson Chalmers Neighborhood Framework Plan as part of the City's Strategic Neighborhood Fund (SNF) program. Based on citizen input provided in PDD's rigorous planning process, renovation of the former Lenox Center was identified as  a "Catalytic Park Project" for the neighborhood. Catalytic projects not only infuse valuable capital into the neighborhood, they are intended to spark interest and investment in the more long-term aspects of the economic development strategies described in the Framework Plans. The building assessment conducted for the renovation of the old Lenox Center, revealed that the entire footprint sat within the FEMA flood plain and no longer met current building codes. The City determined that new building construction was the best choice for indoor recreation and the park would be redesigned to offer more outdoor recreation activity.

PARK MASTER PLAN & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS

Engagement Process

GSD kicked-off the project in May of 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic). The engagement process took approximately one year with a community celebration to share the final concept plans.  

Click below to see each of the boards that were presented at the Community Celebration at A.B. Ford Park:

  1. 01 - About the Project 
  2. 02 - New Community Center on the East Side 
  3. 03 - Park Masterplan 
  4. 04 - Park Priorities Activity