Despite protesters, Kalamazoo revives $5M plan to transform downtown park

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A $5 million plan to transform a downtown Kalamazoo park is back in motion, despite a small group of protesters at City Hall who said money should instead go toward helping homeless people.

After more than 25 public comments and almost two hours of discussion, the Kalamazoo City Commission voted 5-2 to add a controversial $1.6 million line item back into the budget.

The $1.6 million is part of a $5.1 million renovation of the Arcadia Creek Festival Place, 145 E. Water St. The city’s contribution is contingent on a $2 million grant from the state and another $1 million from local foundations and philanthropists.

The funding was removed from the budget in January. On Feb. 5, Assistant City Manager Rebekah Kik presented details to the commission for reconsideration. She clarified that the plans, which had been in the works since 2021, do not include fencing in the site.

Putting a permanent fence around the park was controversial, as the park is currently a place many homeless people gather.

Hours before voting took place, a group of 30 students, activists, homeless individuals and one dog gathered in front of City Hall with bullhorns and handmade signs.

“We, as a group, feel that the the project itself is an extension of the city’s attempts to basically try to exile and police the homeless,” We the People Michigan organizer Tristen Jessup said. “We disagree with the park plan itself, but we also disagree with where these funds are coming from.”

The funding comes from the city’s COVID-19 relief budget, via the American Rescue Plan Act. City CFO Steven Vicenzi and Commissioner Chris Praedel said the city has worked with an ARPA advisor to make sure the renovation meets federal government guidelines for the use of these funds.

“In the guidelines, it talks about investments in communities to promote improve health outcomes ... such as parks and recreation facilities,” Vicenzi said.

Protesters felt the $1.6 million could be used to provide direct financial aid to those most impacted by the pandemic, Jessup said.

Preliminary plans for the $5.1 million of “phase one” renovations include an amphitheater by the creek, a creative play area, updated lighting, electrical utilities and plumbing, the demolition and reconstruction of a stage and pedestrian bridge and the addition of a lawn and promenade.

Future plans include a community event pavilion and housing on the park’s north end.

These updates are not only structurally necessary, Kik said, but would attract events and visitors to the site, spurring visitor spending and creating a space for the community to use every day.

“It should become a community park -- that’s how it wants to be used,” Kik said. “Right now, it feels like it can’t be that active space.”

The commission’s approval will allow the city to hire a consultant and connect with people in Kalamazoo about plans for the site, Kik said. Spending on each piece of the project must still come to the City Commission for approval.

Commissioners Stephanie Hoffman and Don Cooney voted against funding the project, in favor of taking direct action to help homeless residents. Though Kik said the city has spent $28.9 million on housing since 2020, Hoffman said it’s not enough.

“We’ve spent almost $29 million in the housing sector, which is phenomenal,” Hoffman said. “But we still have an issue with people not being able to access quality and affordable permanent housing. We have an issue where there’s a group of people that we have not invested in.”

Though disappointed in the decision, Jessup said she is sure there will be an ongoing discussion about the project.

Transforming the park is not a housing discussion, Mayor David Anderson said. Renovating the park while outside funding is available is something the commission must take on while continuing to find housing solutions in Kalamazoo, Praedel said.

“I will agree with you is that it’s absolutely not enough, we need to do more, we all agree about that,” Praedel said. “We’re not just the affordable housing commission, we’re the Kalamazoo City Commission, and we have 50 different issues ... that we’re all tackling and grappling with.”

After voting, Commissioner Qianna Decker asked the city attorney’s office to report back to the commission on rent control. Though not legal in Michigan, Decker said she is interested in learning more about why other Michigan officials are pushing for it.

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