By Elise Fields, Senior Director of Urban Innovation
Community members gathered at the MSU Detroit Center on May 5 for the latest public meeting in the ongoing I-75 Cap Feasibility Study led by the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) in partnership with Michigan Department of Transportation and the City of Detroit. An interactive workshop invited residents, stakeholders, and community members to help shape the future vision for the proposed caps over I-75 through hands-on activities and discussion focused on desired park amenities, programming, accessibility, and public space design. A dedicated youth engagement area also gave younger Detroiters an opportunity to share ideas and perspectives for the future spaces.
During the meeting, attendees reviewed key takeaways from the February public meeting, explored results from the community survey, and discussed recurring themes that continue to guide the project’s development.
Key takeaways:
- The engineering team is assessing noise and air quality impacts from the project and exploring means to mitigate sound and air pollution from the highway.
- Stories and memories from legacy residents of Paradise Valley and Brush Park and alumni from Cass Technical High School are being collected to honor the area’s history and inform the design of the park caps.
- Please take the survey! Your feedback is critical to inform inclusive public gathering spaces, family-friendly programming, green space, cultural activations, safety, connectivity, and year-round usability.
The I-75 Cap Feasibility Study evaluates the technical, environmental, transportation, and public space considerations involved in creating three proposed caps over I-75. The process remains centered on robust community engagement to ensure the project reflects the priorities and aspirations of Detroit residents. The study is being led by AECOM, an international transportation and infrastructure firm.
The four-part public meeting series continues through July 2026 as project partners work to refine concepts and gather ongoing public input that will help shape the future design and implementation of the transformational public spaces.
Share Your Input
Our commitment at DDP is to organize the process so that community voices are not an afterthought but a design input. We will continue refining the technical analysis. We will continue working closely with MDOT and the City of Detroit. And we will continue inviting Detroiters to participate.
Reconnecting Downtown and Midtown is about restoring continuity, honoring history, and designing infrastructure that serves people first. We are seeking your input to inform the direction of the I-75 Caps. Please take the survey linked below to help shape the direction of this transformational project.
With more than 15 years of experience, Elise provides critical support and management for the DDP’s urban innovation strategy, including infrastructure projects and small business engagement and support. Elise’s experience in the non-profit community and economic development sector in Detroit allows her to bring a unique perspective to the variety of projects the DDP is working on with partners and stakeholders.
