Once a vacant lot, now a playground. Welcome to Riordan Playground in Detroit. This space offers a place for kids to play. It also provides a green space for the community. Riordan Playground is more than swings and slides. It represents a commitment to the city’s children.
After the 1967 riots, Detroit faced an urban crisis. Many residents were unhappy with the lack of recreational facilities. A group called New Detroit formed to promote urban renewal. They created the Deprived Areas Recreation Team or DART. DART aimed to address inequalities, especially the lack of green spaces. Reverend William T. Patrick Jr. noted the shift from recreation to wreck-creation. He called for a re-creation of the shattered city.
DART launched the Vest-Pocket Parks Program. This initiative turned abandoned lots into playgrounds. Neighborhood youth helped in the effort, gaining jobs and safe places to play. These vest-pocket parks were popular. Residents wanted more and faster development. Despite modest results, the program highlighted community involvement. Locals invested time and effort to improve their neighborhoods.
However, urban decay overwhelmed these efforts. A 1977 study found kids creating their own recreational spaces in hazardous areas. Vacant buildings became unofficial playgrounds and havens for undesirables. Children proposed turning these spaces into recreation centers. They believed it would reduce violence. They knew that current conditions shape future outcomes. Despite this support, resources for significant improvements remained scarce.
Mary Ellen Riordan championed teachers and children. A mural of Riordan adorns a building in North Corktown. The mural features Riordan with students. It quotes her statement that teachers want what children need. Riordan served as president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers from 1960 to 1981. She fought for teachers’ collective bargaining rights.
Riordan was a leader in a male-dominated field. She led one of the largest unions in the U.S. At her retirement, the DFT had over 12000 members. Riordan was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 2001. She received the Distinguished Alumni award from Marygrove College in 2004.
Riordan Playground may be small. However, it embodies the spirit of re-creation. It symbolizes the dedication to Detroit’s youth. It is a space where children can play and grow. Remember Mary Ellen Riordan’s words. Teachers and the community want what children need. Riordan Playground strives to meet those needs.