Five total parks are now equipped with public WiFi as a part of a pilot project to increase access in Detroit.
The pilot project between the City of Detroit, Detroit Parks Coalition and Connect 313 selected the following parks with plans to expand at a later date:
- Bradby Park
- Chandler Park
- Clark Park
- McDuffy Park
- Palmer Park
"As we launch this, it starts as a pilot today but we’re going to see more people utilize it and want it and I think that’s the key is getting it in the hands of the people so that they can be vocal about it and say they want it say they want it at more places," said Art Thompson, City of Detroit Chief Information Officer.
Janet Martinez lives in Southwest Detroit near Clark Park. On Wednesday, she visited the park for her daughter's birthday.
"It’s very helpful," said Martinez. "The bills are going high. Any emergency, somebody needs to do like an assignment, anything gets cut off, let’s suppose right now my phone gets cut off, I can come to the park and just get online quick.”
The Detroit Pistons, Rocket Community Fund, and Knight Foundation awarded the project $265,000 in grants for the public WiFi, and construction started in the summer of 2023.
City leaders say funding is guaranteed for five years.
"We are here to serve the community. In the community, in the neighborhoods, we tend to make our investments go deeper in places that are outside of downtown because that’s where the people are,” said Autumn Evans, Rocket Community Fund Senior Program Manager.
The investment is a piece of their greater mission to invest in the inner city that started in 2021 and will continue at least until 2031.
$500 million will be invested towards community organizations that will build economic opportunity in Detroit neighborhoods. The Gilbert Family Foundation will contribute $350 million, and the Rocket Community Fund will invest $150 million.
According to the city's data, at least 25,234 people have used the wifi at their parks since January 2023.
Internet is provided through Cronus Internet and there are also solar power charging stations for devices.
