Outdoor Exhibit Space Built on Vacant Lot

By Veronica Grecu, Associate Editor

Revitalization and redevelopment seem to be the magic words in Detroit! City officials, entrepreneurs, businessmen and residents alike are in a quest to regain Motown’s lost glory.

Matthew Naimi, founder and director of operations of Recycle Here!, and James Willer, workforce development coordinator of the deconstruction program for the WARM Training Center in Detroit (an organization that trains low-income residents to recycle construction materials from houses that are to be demolished), came up with a redevelopment plan for a vacant site owned by Recycle Here! and located near the non-profit’s headquarters.

With financial help coming from the Michigan Council for Art and Cultural Affairs, the Detroit Recreation Department, Midtown Detroit Inc., Recycle Here!, Detroit Synergy and the 44 backers of a Kickstarter campaign, the two managed to create the Lincoln St. Art Park, an art oasis that connects the New Center and the neighborhood of Woodbridge.

As reported by The Detroit News, the park was designed by James Willer. A team of 10 volunteers from Detroit Synergy helped remove the debris, till the soil and plant the trees; Redford Cement Co. and the WARM Training Center donated reused construction materials and a number of artists selected by Matthew Naimi created the outdoor exhibit space.

Illustrations courtesy of Recycle Here! and the WARM Training Center