DETROIT – A Detroit west side neighborhood organization a dozen years old is about to take a monumental leap.
What started with three people looking to improve a neighborhood and help young Detroiters find business opportunities is about to erect a multi-million dollar neighborhood center.
They held a groundbreaking on Friday (May 17) at the site along Grand River near Livernois avenues.
For years, Local 4 has heard, “Well, what about the neighborhoods?” And now, on the west side, there are many vacant buildings, and the development hasn’t been so vast until now because the section of what were vacant homes is soon to become something very special.
It begins with Straight Gate Church but lifts off with the help of David Merritt, former University of Michigan team basketball captain, and Merit Park board chairman.
“I grew up in a house where the gospel wasn’t just communicated, it was demonstrated,” said Merritt.
They held a dirt-free groundbreaking with dignitaries from across southeast Michigan.
Drone 4 flew above his demonstration of giving back; several vacant homes were raised, and more than $10 million was raised to build a community center they’ll call Merit Park, which has some considerable power behind it.
For instance, David Hamp, husband of Detroit Lions owner Shiela Ford Hamp, is part of the group backing the project.
“There are there are 7,000 kids in this zip code who don’t have a park; there’s nothing to compare it to,” said Hamp. “It is completely unique and brand new; it’s overdue.”
Hamp brought a video from newly extended Lions quarterback Jared Goff to help raise interest. It is expected to have a basketball court, which will offer Metro Detroit residents a safe place to play.
But the renderings they’re showing off tell us Merit Park will have so much more.
“It’s going to be mentorship, it’s going to be exposure to sport and entertainment careers, it’s going to be food-based businesses and entrepreneurs and how do we get young people to start food-based businesses,” Merritt said.
Considering they’ve been doing this already for years through the “Fate program,” it’s all about continuing the growth, hoping it spreads success and development further, says graduate Mekhi Alexander.
“And I think that Detroit deserves this investment,” said Alexander. “I think that we really needed this.”
Construction will officially start on Friday, and we expect to have the place open by this time next year.
The state of Michigan and Wayne County have already contributed $3 million to the program, along with donations from the Kresge Foundation and Ally Financial.
They are still about $5 million short and continue looking for backers to help finish Merit Park.