Oak Park 9 Mile Improvements Shine in SEMCOG Tour
(Crystal A. Proxmire, May 30, 2024)
Oak Park, MI – Local officials and administrators from across SE Michigan enjoyed a sunny stroll along 9 Mile Road in Oak Park to learn from the various pieces of the puzzle that have been transforming the roadway.
9 Mile Road was a long stretch, with one side lined with nothing but the mismatched, often dilapidated, back fences. The opposite side had a spattering of shops and businesses, but they didn’t garner much attention as drivers sped past. And of course the regular speeding cars brought it’s own set of worries for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
But over the past few years, a number of strategic changes have transformed 9 Mile into a place where families and businesses want to be, and where drivers slow down to take in more of what there is to see.
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) members met up in Oak Park for the tour, with Director Amy O’Leary encouraging visitors to “lean and take that home with you.”
Oak Park Mayor Marian McClellan said “It was pretty shabby, pretty down and out… nobody came here on purpose, and we have changed that.”
She added “It took ten years to get this far. Lots of planning and hard work… You see people coming here and gathering with their families, which is what we want. We want everybody out of the house, off their screen, and out in the world.”
Economic Development Director Kim Marrone was one of the tour guides, not only showcasing the new amenities, but sharing the “why” behind them, and some of the funding mechanisms that make them possible.
The roadway was given a road diet, reducing it from five lanes to three and adding protected bike lanes, with bright green paint in the crossings to let drivers know where to stop on red. The bike lanes themselves have traffic lights – instead of traditional circles, using the shape of a bicycle to let riders know when it is safe to go or mandatory to stop.
Pedestrian islands are protected areas in the middle where people can stop mid-crossing and be safer from vehicles than simply standing on a yellow line while cars speed past. The crossings also have lights to let drivers know when to stop. “Before you had to do the 50 yard dash to get across 9 Mile,” the Mayor said.
Another safety feature was switching from parallel parking to back in angled parking. Marrone explained that this was a requirement of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) which is working to make them standard because of safety.
Some of the most visible additions however are the artistic features, playground and fitness pieces, and the pocket parks along 9 Mile.
At 9 Mile and Coolidge is the “Nine Mile Trailhead” which gives cyclists a place to rest and repair their bikes. At Senica is the Seneca Pocket park complete with a climbing tower and bean bag throwing. At the Sherman Pocket Park is a giant chess board along with places to sit. And across the southern side of Nine Mile is the Linear Park and the Connector Park. The Linear Park has fixtures for people of all ages to enjoy, including an area of wavy concrete to provide a fun challenge for those on bikes or skateboards. Funding sources include the Michigan Economic Development Corporation which provided a fundraising match for the creation of the Connector Park. The Community Foundation for SE Michigan helped fund the pocket parks.
Plus there is public art. Earth Girl and Let’s Play Hoops are sculptures made out of repurposed trash, created by artist Dale Teachout. Artist Dale Rodgers is behind the large dog sculpture with a bone shape cut out of the middle. And the gateway to the Connector Park is adorned with a piece called Indigenous Oak by Foster Wiley. Not only do these art pieces add to the sense of place, they help add safety as drivers are more inclined to go slow when there are things to see along the roadway.
Also adding beauty and functionality to the area are bioswales with rain gardens. In these beautiful ditches, native flowers grow that help to soak up excess rainfall and prevent flooding.
Businesses in the area have also benefited from the changes. The area is part of a Corridor Improvement Authority, which means that the local government can “capture” tax revenue increases in the area that would otherwise go to other governing bodies (such as Oakland County) in order to reinvest it in improvements. This is an economic development tool that has shown it’s value in Oak Park. Marrone said that in 2018 the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) revenue was $34,500. As property values increase and more businesses move in, that amount increases. In 2024-25 it’s expected to be $607,000.
Part of that money was used on a facade grant program, where businesses would provide matching funding for things like exterior building improvements and signage.
The efforts have attracted new businesses to the area. Almost ready to open is a 30 unit transit-centered apartment building that has just 37 parking spaces, but also has indoor storage for 35 bicycles. The building, simply called The Nine, has a bus stop right in front of it.
Another new project is Hanson Hall – the transformation of an old automotive repair garage into a bar. Across the street from the bar, owned by the same person, is Pie Sci Pizza. So guests can get pizza and take it with them to the bar.
These and other changes are just the start for Oak Park, which is quickly growing into a popular city for those looking for starter homes and an active community vibe. Mayor McClellan talked about the recent millage proposal passage that will fund fixing up other parks in the city. At the municipal center, plans are in the works for an amphitheater, a mini farmers market space, a new pool, a walking path, and more.
“I have to pinch myself to believe all this is happening in Oak Park,” Mayor McClellan said.
Learn more about the City of Oak Park at https://www.oakparkmi.gov/. Learn more about SEMCOG at https://www.semcog.org/.
