Scripps Park, located at the corner of Trumbull Street and Grand River Ave. in Woodbridge, could soon see new life as a community gathering space and site for local art installations.
The park, which is adjacent to the
Douglass Branch of the Detroit Public Library, began its life as the gardens of
George Booth, founder of both Cranbrook and the Detroit News. While redevelopment efforts in 2001 added benches, walking paths and shade pergola to the greenspace, the new framework envisions more synergy between the library and the park, as well as a performance stage, improved outdoor lighting and a toddler playscape.
Woodbridge resident and volunteer Mike Spence, who heads the
Friends of Scripps Park, is helping
Forward Arts raise $4,000 to donate to the
Woodbridge Neighborhood Development Corporation. The WNDC, in council with Forward Arts, will bring two large scale art exhibitions to Scripps Park, as well as four youth art workshops this summer. Following the example of successful online campaigns like Robocop, these groups together have turned to the Web to help raise funds and awareness.
"Scripps Park is kind of the southern welcome mat of Woodbridge," Spence says. "It's a really important space to have maintained and look inviting for kids and people who are visiting the neighborhood."
He says they also hope to reach out to churches and community groups who can utilize the park for gatherings during the summer months. The Friends of Scripps Park will maintain a community events calendar for the park that will be houses at the Douglass Branch library, while providing residents with city materials if they wish to program an event.
"The interest has always been there," Spence says. "We're really trying to engage as many community stakeholders as possible to keep up the momentum."
On April 16, the Friends of Scripps Park will host their first park cleanup -- think litter and trash removal, lawn maintenance and wall repairs. You can also make a donation to the online
campaign.
Source: Mike Spence, Friends of Scripps Park
Writer: Ashley C. Woods
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