DETROIT (WWJ) -- Longtime residents are excited as re-grand opening was held Tuesday for a neighborhood park on Detroit's northwest side, after a two-year revitalization project.
Several local government and community leaders on hand, along with regular folks from the area, for a ribbon-cutting celebration at Kelley Park, along Puritan Ave., in the Crary/St. Marys neighborhood.
The 4.5-acre park underwent a $750,000 revitalization that includes a new playground, picnic shelter, basketball court, expanded walking loop, and a dog park.
Wayne County, through a recent parks millage, contributed $200,000 to the Kelley Park project, which additional financial support from the Gilbert Family Foundation.
"I love parks, and for the last ten years it's been a passion of ours to try to improve county parks, connect parks to local cities and communities, and to working neighborhoods like this," said Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.
"So, this is something that's really fun for me to do," Evans said. "The parks just look better. Things are fixed, and people are starting to use them."
Among local residents who pushed for a fixup of this particular park was Daniel Ferguson, said he played there as a child, more than 30 years ago.
"It shows that the city is working with the community and giving the community what they need to be better citizens," Ferguson told WWJ Newsradio 950's Jon Hewett. "It's time to put some muscle behind this hustle, and let's get this thing going. I'm very excited."