DETROIT (WWJ) – While many debate whether Detroit has “made a comeback” over the last two decades, there really is no debate when it comes to Downtown.
The area has been revitalized through drastic changes – perhaps none more drastic than the introduction of Campus Martius Park, which has helped change the way Detroiters gather downtown.
As Detroit celebrates the 20th anniversary of Campus Martius, WWJ's Zach Clark remembers the visionary behind the space, Bob Gregory, on a new Daily J podcast.
Gregory died of a heart attack while sailing with his family in July.
Last Christmastime Gregory joined the Daily J to talk about the marvel of Campus Martius. He shared his involvement in the plan for the park before the turn of the century, which was a so-called “300th birthday gift” to the city.
“He was tasked with this whole revitalization and Bob is a meticulous planner. His forethought would match anybody’s. The amount of thought he put into and the planning he put into Campus Martius, even before they began, just kind of blew us away,” WWJ’s Annie Scaramuzzino said on the podcast after meeting Gregory.
David Cowan, Chief Public Spaces Officer for the Downtown Detroit Partnership, said working alongside Gregory and the foresight he had for Campus Martius influenced the way he thinks about his own job.
“Bob was an incredible friend to me and also a mentor. Certainly Bob set the tone and vision together with the board at Detroit’s 300th birthday to coalesce support around Campus Martius Park, which led to a lot of these other great spaces,” he said. “We miss him a ton, we think about him a ton constantly and we’re feeling good about his legacy and how it’s going to be carried forward.”
On Thursday the DDP held a 20th anniversary celebration at Campus Martius with food, drinks and live music. The proceeds will help support the park and other public spaces Downtown Detroit.
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