BLACK mobile logo

detroit

community

Campus Martius Park Named No. 1 Public Square in America for Third Year in a Row

April 17, 2025

Campus Martius Park in Detroit has been named the No. 1 Public Square in America for the third consecutive year by USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) and the City of Detroit have transformed this historic space at the intersection of Woodward and Michigan Avenues into a vibrant community hub that draws more than 4.

Who is affected

  • 4.5 million annual visitors to Campus Martius Park
  • Detroit residents of all backgrounds (described as "Black, brown, white, native Detroiters and new neighbors")
  • Local artists, vendors, food truck owners, and entrepreneurs who find opportunities at the park
  • Elders who remember downtown's previous state of disinvestment
  • Young people who now have welcoming access to spaces their grandparents may have been excluded from
  • The 775,000 people who attended the NFL Draft at the park in 2024

What action is being taken

  • The Downtown Detroit Partnership is managing Campus Martius Park and 17 other public spaces in Detroit
  • DDP is hosting over 1,200 free events annually at Campus Martius Park
  • Seasonal programming is being maintained, including The Rink (ice skating), The Beach (urban beach), Movie Nights in the D, and the Detroit Tree Lighting
  • DDP has released a thank-you video celebrating the three-peat victory
  • Cultural events like African World Festival performances and gospel choir gatherings are regularly being held at the park

Why it matters

  • The recognition validates Detroit's approach to urban redevelopment that prioritizes community needs and inclusion
  • Campus Martius Park demonstrates that public spaces can thrive when they reflect and serve the people who built the city
  • The park's success challenges the historical pattern of disinvestment in public spaces in Black and brown neighborhoods
  • The three-peat victory highlights Detroit's ongoing transformation into a destination that maintains its cultural identity
  • The park represents a reclamation of Detroit's history and provides a space for new, more inclusive chapters to be written

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle