The boundaries of the Hope Park Project area, with James T. Hope Park and VEJ's Hope House & Garden in the center.
In 2020, VEJ received a Kresge Innovation Projects: Detroit (KIP:D) Round 6 grant. This grant will fund a yearlong project to engage Hope Park residents in designing the future of their neighborhood. The Hope Park Neighborhood Land Use and Vision Project (“Hope Park Project”) should lead to a neighborhood consensus on the best function and form that the built and natural environment should take for the good of residents.
The final plan will focus on three things: 1) Conceptual design and plan for Hope House & Garden, 2) conceptual use for vacant buildings and land, and 3) conceptual use for the Community of Christ Detroit Hope Church.
If the Hope Park Project goes to plan, residents will control the decision-making and planning for the future of space open to community use in their neighborhood.
A neighborhood steering committee will drive the Hope Park Project from start to finish. The committee will be the link between design professionals at Detroit Collaborative Design Center and Hope Park residents. The committee will approve the final conceptual design and plan for every part of the project, including VEJ’s Hope House & Garden. The entire project should be complete by Winter 2022.
VEJ will serve as the “back office” and “home base” for the Hope Park Project. This includes administrative support, financial management, funding, organization, and personnel. VEJ will be responsible for managing the Kresge KIP:D grant and submitting the reports the grant requires.
In May 2021, VEJ contracted Detroit community organizer Roslyn Ogburn to lead the Hope Park Project. Ogburn brings decades of community organizing and volunteer experience to her role.
To get involved or learn more, contact Roslyn Ogburn at [email protected] or (313) 409-8329.