Downtown Detroit Is Getting Beautified Ahead Of 2024 NFL Draft
Detroit will be hosting the 2024 NFL Draft taking place April 25 through April 27. Thousands of people will be coming into town for the NFL Draft including some big…
Detroit will be hosting the 2024 NFL Draft taking place April 25 through April 27. Thousands of people will be coming into town for the NFL Draft including some big names in college and professional football.
Ahead of the festivities, city leaders are working to make a good first impression before fans make their way to Downtown Detroit. Elisa Malile, Chief of External Affairs with the City of Detroit Mayor's Office told WXYZ "for fans traveling by plane, it's important to ensure a smooth visit."
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) oversaw cleaning the highways, but in March, the City of Detroit took over. As part of the agreement, MDOT is allocating $650,000. Cleaning efforts have already begun.
Some of the projects underway include improving signage along the highway, planting trees, working on light poles, and road and sidewalk repairs. This spring you can expect more than 1,100 trees and about 2,000 shrubs on I-94 between Wyoming and I-96, Malile shared with WXYZ.
According to Malil, the three top priorities for the city in preparation for the 2024 NFL Draft are infrastructure, beautification, and public safety.
See what other changes are being implemented in Downtown Detroit ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft here.
Top 5 Reasons Detroit Shouldn’t Be On The Ugliest Cities List
There are some cities across the U.S. that look stunning, while there are others that make you want to look the other way. A travel site has compiled a list of the ugliest cities in each state. When making them list they considered lack of maintenance and poor design choices.
In Michigan, one can find several beautiful places such as those with lakes, scenic views, waterfalls, and more. According to Alot Travel, a travel site, Detroit is considered one of the ugliest cities.
Why did they list Detroit as one of the "ugliest" cities?
Though Detroit is on the up and up, the travel site said that “It's got a reputation for being a bad place to live, and it's also a pretty ugly place to live too.” They even pulled a comment about the city from a Reddit user that said, “I mean, just look at a satellite map of Detroit. Once you leave the i94, m10, i75, i375 rectangle (the path that Woodward takes), it gets real ugly real fast."
Many Detroit outsiders think of the city and instantly picture post-apocalyptic images of abandoned vehicles and crumbling homes, churches, and streets. While others may see Detroit as an ugly city, we know where to find beauty beyond what outsiders may believe.
Despite what their list says, what makes Detroit a beautiful city? The city’s culture, sense of community, low cost of living, options for entertainment, its outdoor scene, make it beautiful. Not only is it located in the Great Lakes state, but there are also stunning places to check out within Motor City.
See the full list of the ugliest cities from all 50 states here.
Here are 5 reasons why Detroit is not the ugliest city in Michigan.
Reason 5 | There’s never a dull moment and always something beautiful to explore.
Getty ImagesIn Detroit, you can discover new restaurants, explore art galleries, see a show, catch a game, even if the teams aren’t the best, and more. There are plenty of things to look forward to in Detroit including pop-ups and seasonal adventures. You have Campus Martius in the summer and Christmas markets in the winter.
There are several places to catch scenic views and plenty of activities.
Getty ImagesThere are many options for hiking, swimming, rowing, running, and picnics. Detroit is actually home to one of the largest city-owned island parks in the U.S., according to the Detroit Historical Society. The 982 acres park, Belle Isle, is larger than New York City’s Central Park at only 843 acres. There are also a variety of playfields, greenways, and plazas including the 27.5-mile Joe Louis Greenway. Another beautiful stop is the Detroit Riverwalk which has been named the Best Riverwalk in America three years in a row by the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.
Reason 3 | It has beautiful architecture.
Getty ImagesFamous architects who have stunning buildings in Detroit include Albert Kahn (Fisher Building), Minoru Yamasaki (One Woodward Avenue, Wayne State University’s McGregor Conference Center and College of Education, Federal Reserve Bank, and others), and C. Howard Crane (Fox Theatre). You can’t forget about the Masonic Temple’s magnificent lobby which is the work of sculptor Corrado Parducci and is an adaptation of a Sicilian castle. Also, architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed a house in the Palmer Woods neighborhood.
Reason 2 | There are several theaters with a rich history.
Photo by Scott Legato/Getty ImagesThe city has more than 40 theaters including the Fox Theatre which opened in 1928 and Max M. Fisher Music Center.
Reason 1 | It’s full of arts and culture.
Kayla MorganDetroit has several murals scattered around the city. As a matter of fact, the Z Garage in downtown Detroit features murals from over 20 artists across the country. Last year, Detroit's Eastern Market held its Murals in the Market event, which brought artists to paint murals.
