The city of Detroit continues to make necessary repairs to Hart Plaza but still needs millions to complete everything on its wishlist – and officials aren’t sure how to get it.

The 45-year-old park has seen $9 million in upgrades in recent years – primarily to its Grand Staircase and the iconic Dodge Fountain – with the aid of American Rescue Plan Act funding. The 14-acre park captured national attention last summer when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural and cultural significance. 

Among the targeted repairs are work on its pyramid stage and the front entrance. But some advocates say they are disappointed with how the federal dollars have been used for site improvements thus far. amid uncertainty over long term funding for the park. 

Crystal Perkins, director of the city’s General Services Department, told BridgeDetroit that the department has been in talks with the city’s Office of Budget on how to obtain funding for the rest of the projects, but there’s no plan yet. 

Detroit Chief Financial Officer Jay Rising said in a statement that any additional updates or repair work at Hart Plaza beyond what’s already funded, “would be added to the Capital Agenda list and would be funded based on priority determined by City Council.” 

But Detroit preservationist Tanya Stephens said considering those unknowns, the city could’ve been more thoughtful about how it spent the federal dollars. 

“That ARPA funding was once-in-a-lifetime money,” said Stephens, who is also a  Preservation Detroit board member. 

When it comes to the city allocating funds to the Capital Agenda for Hart Plaza projects, Stephens said she doesn’t have faith it will happen.

“I don’t see it happening, because I know how long it took them (the city) to get to that point where they got the (ARPA) money and they still blew it,” she said. “I don’t know how they could raise more money, but I do believe that they could have more informed people overseeing the process for sure.” 

A work in progress  

Nathan Nietering with the State Historic Preservation Office said the city still has time to apply for a new round of grant funding administered by his office and the National Parks Service. 

The Certified Local Government (CLG) program offers Michigan communities exclusive grant funding and technical assistance for historic preservation. The city of Detroit has won it at least twice before, including more than $35,000 for a consultant to prepare Hart Plaza’s historic nomination. 

When Hart Plaza was chosen for the list last summer, it was a rare designation, said Jordan Fifer, public affairs specialist for the National Park Service. 

In order for a place to be considered a historical landmark with the agency, the property usually has to be at least 50 years old unless it shows “exceptional significance,” Fifer said via email.

Designed by architect Isamu Noguchi, Hart Plaza opened in 1979. With its prime location off the Detroit River, Hart Plaza has become a destination for major events like the Detroit International Jazz Fest and the Movement techno festival. 

Most recently,  the plaza underwent a $2.4 million redesign of its Grand Staircase, improving access to the nearby Gateway to Freedom monument and the riverwalk for people with disabilities. That project also included the restoration of the Dodge Fountain, which reopened last year ahead of Movement after being shut down for nearly a decade. 

The city plans to have the Grand Staircase completed ahead of the summer event season, Perkins said. According to a 2022 East Riverfront Assets Study, Hart Plaza is also expected to get a new comfort station pavilion with restrooms, concessions and visitor information. A final phase of improvements would include developing a promenade on Woodward Ave. Those projects are expected to cost between $1 and $10 million, the study notes.

Areas surrounding the Transcending monument and sections adjacent to the main plaza entrance are still in need of repair and much of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing is outdated in the sub-level spaces, according to the riverfront study. 

Advocates also cited damage previously done to the Gateway to Freedom, which honors the members of the Underground Railroad who helped escaped slaves make it to Canada. Stephens said she was at the community engagement meetings for the riverfront study. Her group was focused on conserving the monument, but city officials prioritized the Grand Staircase. 

“The city totally overlooked all of the things that we were advocating to have done to it and focused on redesigning the stairs,” she said. 

Nietering, who has fond memories of Hart Plaza from a former job with a tour boat company, said he hopes that the city honors Noguchi’s original design in any changes it makes.  

“(Noguchi) thought a lot about how people moved through public spaces, what sort of events and activities they would want to do, the key views of the Detroit River or the skyline, the different skyscrapers that surround it,” he said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Detroit preservationist Tanya Stephen’s first name.