In what is expected to be a transformational project that brings play to residents and bolsters community pride, the MML Foundation is serving in a fiduciary and coordinating role to bring Veterans Memorial Park in Hamtramck, MI to life.
The Space
Situated in Hamtramck, MI, Veterans Memorial Park is currently home to Keyworth Stadium, where the Detroit City Football Club currently plays, and the historic Hamtramck Stadium, where the former Detroit Stars played baseball when most sports teams were still segregated in the US.
This unique space, located in one of the most diverse, dense cities in America is part of the country's nuanced history. As it currently stands, the majority of the park is a grass field and the historic stadium stands in disrepair.
The Master Plan
In 2018, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, funded the initial stages of this project. The work is a significant first step toward the renovation, maintenance, and activation of the park campus, which includes Keyworth Stadium and the Historic Hamtramck Stadium.
The grant funded a robust community engagement process to determine how best to revive Keyworth and Hamtramck stadiums and the surrounding campus to meet the community’s changing needs.
Half the grant was used to replace the turf at Keyworth, which was about a decade past its life span, and is where the community’s high school and middle school teams, and the Detroit City Football Club play.
Community Engagement
This project hinges on the master plan reflecting the many needs and dreams of the Hamtramck community. Thanks to many hours spent, miles walked, meals shared, and conversations held by Global Detroit and Ten X Ten Studio, we are confident that this plan does just that. The visionary landscape architects at Ten X Ten Studio then turned that input into the master plan that you can view by clicking below.
