DETROIT (WWJ) -- As the state continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and Detroiters return to work downtown, the Downtown Detroit Partnership has some summer fun lined up at six downtown parks, with Thursday marking the return of The Beach at Campus Martius Park.
More Michiganders are getting vaccinated and life as we knew it is revving up again, as was evident in the park Thursday. Sounds from the Detroit 313 Experience filled the air under the sunshine as summer quickly approaches.
Another sign of life returning, "The Beach" and Midday Music are back at Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit. Today, the sounds of Detroit 313 Experience. @WWJ950 @CityofDetroit pic.twitter.com/XmOlsgCjt1
— Jon Hewett (@JonHewettWWJ) June 3, 2021
More than 400,000 lbs. of sand were hauled into the park, with beach chairs, umbrellas and live music transporting visitors from downtown Detroit to a summer island oasis.
Mid-day music and Friday Beach Parties are just part of the entertainment offered to workers and visitors alike. DDP CEO Eric Larson tells WWJ's Jon Hewett they're slowly ramping up activity at places like Campus Martius, Grand Circus Park and other downtown parks as they not only offer entertainment for the returning workforce, but all Detroiters.
"I honestly think as the summer sort of expands, we will have a really reasoned pace of activity that will allow us to gear up over time," Larson said. "It's not like we'll turn on the spigot and all 80,000 people will be downtown, working 9-to-5. We'll have time to think about how we rebuild the workforce that is so necessary to support those businesses."
The DDP announced earlier this spring that free, high-speed WiFi will be available at all downtown parks this summer, making it easy for Detroiters to get a little work done in fun environment.
Other summer attractions at downtown parks include roller skating, basketball and art at the Midway on Monroe, located adjacent to Campus Martius. Downtown Street Eats returned last month, while Movie Nights in The D will begin Saturday nights in July at Campus Martius.
The DDP reports downtown Detroit has already seen a 174% increase in pedestrian foot traffic since April as more Detroiters are beginning to get outside.
More information on summer fun in downtown Detroit can be found on DowntownDetroitParks.com.
