Auburn Hills Public Square Project Earns Statewide Placemaking Award
(MDA, Nov. 21, 2025)
AUBURN HILLS, MI — The Auburn Hills Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has been recognized with the Best Public Place Project award from the Michigan Downtown Association (MDA) for its transformative New Public Square Project. The honor was announced during the MDA’s 9th Annual Michigan Downtown Awards ceremony, held at the organization’s Annual Conference in downtown Rochester, MI.
“The Auburn Hills DDA, through its funding, organization, and vision, illustrates how important a downtown management organization is to a project’s success and a community’s economic vitality,” said Dana Walker, director of the Michigan Downtown Association.
Each year, the MDA celebrates downtown organizations across Michigan for excellence in marketing, economic development, and placemaking initiatives. These awards highlight the critical work downtown leaders do to enhance property values, foster community engagement, and promote small business growth.
“The Auburn Hills DDA deserves recognition for the New Public Square Project because it transformed an underutilized municipal parking lot into a vibrant, multi-functional public square at the heart of downtown,” Walker continued. “The space was created for people and their shared experiences.”
Beyond its striking design and functionality, the New Public Square has become a central gathering place for residents and visitors, symbolizing a new chapter in Auburn Hills’ downtown revitalization efforts.
“Public spaces are powerful catalysts for revitalization, and the New Public Square embodies the power of placemaking and the belief that well-designed public spaces strengthen the social and economic fabric of a community,” Walker added.
Opened in the Summer of 2025, the Auburn Hills Downtown Public Square has quickly become a welcoming, multi-purpose gathering space for residents, visitors, and local businesses. The project transformed an underutilized municipal parking lot into a vibrant, multi-functional public square. Designed with flexibility in mind, the public square will accommodate year-round programming.
Each year, nominations for the MDA Annual Awards are accepted prior to September. Eligible projects must have been completed within the past three years in an MDA member community.
Founded in 1980, the Michigan Downtown Association is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to strengthening downtowns through education, advocacy, and promotion. Its members are passionate about the continued development and vitality of Michigan’s downtowns and communities.
For more information about the Michigan Downtown Association, visit www.michigandowntowns.com.
