Investing in Detroit's Parks: Inside the Neighborhood-Focused Push of the Gilbert Family Foundation

While major downtown developments often capture the headlines, neighborhood parks across the city of Detroit's 139 square miles are getting critical investments driven directly by community feedback, with funding support from the philanthropic community.

In this episode, I sit down at our TechTown studio with JJ Vélez, Senior Director of Public Space for the Gilbert Family Foundation.

We dig into how a $1.2 million commitment across neighborhood parks — including Dorais Park, Eliza Howell Park, and Hass Emery Park (currently in the process of being renamed Keith Slappy Park) — is helping bring community-driven visions to life, as well as how they help on the ground with community organizations.

As he says:

"Detroiters just want to be heard... What I've learned in this position is bringing that mentality: underpromise and overdeliver, and just being an opportunity for residents to speak and listen. There's a reason why we have two ears and one mouth. We need to do a lot more listening and a lot less speaking."

Feedback as always by email: [email protected] or leave a voicemail: 313-789-3211.

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