Residents in Detroit have a new reason to visit their local parks, beyond the greenery and recreation. According to a report by ClickOnDetroit, the City of Detroit, in collaboration with partners including the Detroit Parks Coalition and Connect 313, has recently launched free public Wi-Fi in five city parks, positioning the city on track to become a leading example of municipal connectivity.
The initiative, part of a broader effort to bridge the digital divide, allows anyone to access the internet within the confines of Bradby, Chandler, Clark, McDuffy, and Palmer Parks. More than just a convenience, this move is deemed critical for Detroit to continue to quickly grow into a bustling tech hub. Crystal Perkins, director of City of Detroit General Services, said, as per the City of Detroit, "The internet is now essential in our day-to-day lives so having free access to it in our parks plays a crucial role in enhancing community life."
This service is expected to significantly benefit local students, as exemplified by the sentiment of Miranda Pasaye, a high school student preparing to apply to college, who told ClickOnDetroit, "As a student and as a rising senior, it's important for me." Beyond educational uses, Wi-Fi access also promises to aid in job searches, social service access, and more.
In addition to wireless internet, the city has installed free charging station towers in each of the parks to ensure devices can remain powered up while citizens are online. Art Thompson, Chief Information Officer with the City of Detroit, expressed the transformative nature of the project, as cited by ClickOnDetroit, stating, "I think it's a monumental game changer. You know, we went from, prior to the pandemic, probably one of the least connected cities in the nation. And my mission, my goal is to change that. We need to be one of the most connected cities."
The Wi-Fi project, funded by grants from the Detroit Pistons, the Knight Foundation, and the Rocket Community Fund, serves a city where approximately 30 percent of households previously lacked at-home internet access. Laura Grannemann, Executive Director of Rocket Community Fund and Chair of the Connect 313 Board emphasized the progress the city has made, noting that "Detroit has made remarkable strides on digital inclusion since 2020," as mentioned in the City of Detroit.
