It all started 20 years ago with a group of key leaders led by Edsel B. Ford II, founding chair of the Detroit 300 Conservancy. The vision was to restore the heart of our Downtown through a world-class public space in honor of Detroit’s 300th Birthday. The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) team led by Bob Gregory supported by Heather Badrak and Tom Parkinson was assembled to execute this vision. Twenty years later, DDP continues to honor and protect Edsel’s legacy gift.
Campus Martius Park was a total game changer at the time of its dedication, which was Friday, November 19, 2004. This destination became the new annual location for the Detroit Tree Lighting and is home to a custom water fountain that remains active all year-round defying the cold, adjacent to an outdoor ice-skating rink — all constructed in the middle of Downtown Detroit’s main street — Woodward Avenue!
Based on our special events work with the Detroit Festival of the Arts, Maureen Riley, Mark Loeb and I were enlisted to produce and program the park opening of Detroit Tree Lighting.
Campus Martius Park proved to be just what the community needed, “a new gathering place,” offering a green respite for workers, residents and tourists. Since its inception, it serves as a snapshot of the city’s potential showcasing the renewed focus on development. Inside Campus Martius Park sits the site of Detroit’s point of origin located at 0 miles, where the vision for the city’s plan was originally laid out by Augustus Woodward in 1805… click the link to read the full blog.
Continue reading to learn more about the Detroit Tree Lighting entertainment line-up and event details.
Njia Kai
DDP Partner, NKSK Events + Production
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