DETROIT (WWJ) – A community park on Detroit’s northwest side is getting a makeover – and a name change.
Luger Park, near 7 Mile and Schaefer, is set to become Dave Bing Community Park, paying tribute to the Pistons Hall-of-Famer and former mayor of Detroit.
Michigan-Hartford Memorial Baptist Church held a groundbreaking event Thursday at the park, which will see upgrades to two basketball courts, sponsored by the Pistons, two new tennis courts, a walking track, greenspace, playscapes, a pavilion and more.
The park, which the church bought from the city in 2014, is expected to reopen this fall.
After his playing days, Bing has been heavily involved in the Detroit community, including a stint as mayor and the founding of the Bing Youth Institute, a nonprofit mentoring organization for African American boys and young men.
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Former Piston Derrick Coleman was one of several former NBA players on-hand for Thursday’s ceremony.
“What Dave’s doing to create this park, it’s just gonna get other kids engaged and involved. I mean, talk about giving back to the community,” Coleman said.
Hartford Memorial Baptist Pastor Charles Adams says leaders want to make sure that every child has a safe place to play and every adult will have a place to stay healthy.
“In all the awards and recognition, I’ve received over the years there is none greater than to be acknowledged by the residents of the city I’ve called home for nearly six decades,” Bing said. “This park may bear my name, but it belongs to the residents of Detroit.”