The Downtown Detroit Partnership’s leadership in public space management was recently highlighted at Greater & Greener 2026 in Austin, Texas, a national convening dedicated to exploring the full potential of parks as city-building tools. The event gathers leaders from government, nonprofit organizations, and communities across North America who are leveraging parks and public spaces to create more sustainable, vibrant, and equitable cities.
As part of the convening, Chief Public Spaces Officer David Cowan joined national park leaders including peers from Brooklyn, Boston, and Raleigh, David shared how thoughtfully curated programming can enhance the visitor experience, activate public spaces, support safety, and generate sustainable revenue that helps fund maintenance, programming, and stewardship.
The discussion explored innovative approaches to public-private partnerships, revenue-sharing models, out of the box concessions, and strategies for ensuring parks and public spaces remain vibrant and financially resilient during uncertain economic times. DDP’s participation reflects the organization’s national reputation as a leader in placemaking and the creation of dynamic civic destinations.
Photo credit: Brio Photography.
