By: Jasmine West
Detroiters will have another free outdoor option downtown this summer as Spirit Plaza reopens following a $2.9 million renovation that added a permanent covered stage, new playground equipment, turf, more seating and added shade.
Programming begins Saturday, June 6, with a grand reopening celebration from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The event will include DJs, fitness classes, food trucks, resource tables, inflatables, a gaming truck and family activities.
Located around the Spirit of Detroit statue on Woodward Avenue between Larned and East Jefferson, Spirit Plaza has operated as a public gathering space since 2017. The plaza was first created as a temporary use of the former street space. The latest renovation keeps the same general layout while making several features permanent.
The update replaces the temporary stage with a covered stage, adds a swing set, expands the play area, installs a turf lawn and increases seating with umbrellas. City officials said the changes are meant to support the plaza’s role as a free summer destination for lunch breaks, children’s activities, live entertainment, food trucks and community gatherings.
“Spirit Plaza is a place for all Detroiters, whether it’s to sit and enjoy lunch, take part in the diverse programming or join fellow Detroiters to voice support for a cause they support,” said Mayor Mary Sheffield. “This beautiful new design and new amenities will make it an even more inclusive destination to enjoy our city and admire the Spirit of Detroit statue.”
Accessibility was part of the redesign. The play area includes rubber and turf surfaces to make movement easier for children and adults using mobility aids. The merry-go-round is wheelchair accessible, and the play tower can be climbed or crawled up, allowing children with different mobility needs to use the space.
“We want to make sure residents have spaces in their neighborhoods and downtown to take in the outdoors and have fun doing so; these recent improvements at Spirit Plaza help us meet that standard and beyond for both children and adults,” said City of Detroit General Services Director Crystal Perkins.
Several returning programs are scheduled for the summer. Yin Nights with Trap Yoga and Massage Studio will take place Wednesdays at 8:15 p.m. Dancing in the D with DJ Roc Wit Moe will return Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Food trucks will be at the plaza weekdays from noon to 3 p.m.
Tables and seating will be placed throughout the plaza once the programming season begins.
Spirit Plaza will also be active during the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix from May 29 through May 31. A pedestrian bridge will connect Hart Plaza to Spirit Plaza during the race weekend.
The reopening gives downtown Detroit another public space where residents can gather without an admission cost. For families looking for free summer activities, workers looking for a place to eat outside and residents looking for a central place to enjoy music, movement and community programming, Spirit Plaza will again serve as one of the city’s most visible outdoor gathering spaces.
