Community: City of Royal Oak
Population: Over 12,001
It is the City of Royal Oak’s pleasure to enthusiastically submit Centennial Commons for the Community Excellence Award. The two-acre greenspace is the heart of a public-private development consisting of four projects — a new downtown park, a new City Hall, a new police station and the Henry Ford Medical Center.
Most people, even our long-time residents, do not recall a time when a green space existed in Royal Oak’s downtown. The only known photograph of a former downtown park was taken in 1938. To say the city excited about the return of a green and vibrant gathering space is an understatement.
With input from our residents and a downtown park taskforce, landscape architects came up with a design that is compelling, creative, entertaining and transformative. Where there was once a parking lot and functionally obsolete buildings, there are quality public gardens, lawns, playscapes, a water feature, an abundance of outdoor seating, a stage area, public art, a community table and a modest rock-climbing wall. The clever design provides spaces for relaxation, rejuvenation and recreation in center of a lively downtown.
Replicability:
Communities seeking to revitalize underutilized spaces may have different budgets and areas to work with than Royal Oak, but a similar purpose: creating gathering spaces that provide opportunities for shared experiences that connect us all as a community.
Royal Oak involved its residents in determining what its new gathering space should become. The city offered a blank canvass and provided an opportunity for the public to give its impressions as to the future “Look and Feel" of a downtown park.
The community engagement process honed inspiration through a series of impressions, opinions and collective thinking from the community. The city desired both stakeholders and the public to be notified and informed throughout the entire process. It was also important to allow individuals to speak their minds in an organized fashion with meaningful outcomes, but also in a relaxed and comfortable manner. Everyone could have a conversation with facilitators and know that their input would be heard and incorporated. A unique blend of interviews included a series of public outreach engagements entitled “Meet, Greet and Listen” sessions, “Visual Preference Surveys” (VPS) and an online public opinion survey mimicking the VPS.
The result was a 300-page report that can serve as a community engagement road map for any size community or project.
Creativity and Originality:
Royal Oak residents reimagined a parking lot and transformed it into a green and vibrant gathering space. We are looking forward to creating new special times and memories for all.
Community Impact:
Centennial Commons is a community asset in which all residents can feel ownership. No individual was isolated from participating in the planning and design process.
The park opened to the public on December 4, 2021 to coincide with the 100th university of the City of Royal Oak. Since then, we've seen veterans place wreaths during the holidays. This spring we've enjoyed watching individuals in wheelchairs playing bocce ball on the glade and service dogs learning to execute tasks. Downtown employees eat lunch on the terrace and children learn to play chess with grandparents.
The first two events to be held at the park this summer demonstrate Centennial Commons' flexibility and appeal.
In May the city will host a week-long Field of Honor to remember the 188 individuals from Royal Oak who gave their lives in service to our country. 188 flags will be placed on the glade. Scouting groups will camp and watch over the flags.
In June, Royal Oak will host a Juneteenth event, which includes educational components, field games, food trucks, giveaways and a Miss Juneteenth pageant.
We are moving in new directions in Royal Oak and creating a new sense of place in which all can flourish.
