Horace Blackman Park at a recent Jammin’ in Jackson Event. Photo by Ryan Kerwin, JTV.
The Michigan Association of Planners has awarded the city of Jackson and Beckett & Raeder, Inc. the prestigious 2017 planning award for “urban design” for the city’s expansion of Horace Blackman Park.
The annual award recognizes communities and planning agencies which promote sound community land use planning that benefits everyone within a municipality. This is the second MAP/APA Michigan award Jackson received, after earning the Daniel H. Burnham Award for the city’s master plan last year.
“A tremendous amount of time and energy went into making Horace Blackman Park what it is today,” said City Councilman Andrew Frounfelker, who represents the 5th Ward where the park rests. “We’re honored to have been awarded for our hard work.”
Since the demolition of the old Consumers Energy headquarters where the park now resides, city administration and staff have worked hard to make the park what it is today. This includes raising the necessary funds to build the CP Federal City Square on park grounds – spearheaded by City Councilman Derek Dobies, 6th Ward.
After roughly three years of planning, fundraising and construction, the Glidden Parker mural – housed in the city square – was unveiled May 5. Funding for the project began with the success of two competitive grants and was followed by eight organizations and nonprofits stepping forward to donate funds for the project.
“The CP Federal City Square project highlights all of the work city officials did to make Horace Blackman Park what it is today,” Mayor Bill Jors said.
The award will be granted to the city of Jackson during the MAP/APA’s annual conference Sept. 27 at the Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island.
Other communities that received awards for 2017 include the City of Auburn Hills, Trenton, Southfield and others.
