McDougall-Hunt is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Detroit. According to historical accounts, McDougall-Hunt’s proximity to Black Bottom contributed to a shared history, culture, and neighborhood context in Detroit. Like many Detroit neighborhoods, McDougall-Hunt has dealt with a decreasing population and significant housing losses over the decades as a result of neighborhood disinvestment, substantial foreclosures, and abandonment. Since the 1950's, the neighborhood has become increasingly vacant and the quality of living has suffered.
The Project
The most significant and creative project feature within Bailey Park will be the creation of the McDougall-Hunt Historical Alley walk utilizing a historic interior alleyway of Bailey Park. The alleyway is located on the block between Charlevoix Street to the North, Hunt Street to the South, McDougall Street to the West, and Elmwood Street to the East.
Bailey Park NDC proposes the alley walk experience to be equal parts museum, art gallery, and front porch oral history. Visitors will take in art work, historical photos, and narratives rich with City and neighborhood history as they walk the interior alleyway of Bailey Park. Rotating exhibits in the alley way will preserve and showcase the story of people from Detroit’s east side neighborhoods.
The Project
The most significant and creative project feature within Bailey Park will be the creation of the McDougall-Hunt Historical Alley walk utilizing a historic interior alleyway of Bailey Park. The alleyway is located on the block between Charlevoix Street to the North, Hunt Street to the South, McDougall Street to the West, and Elmwood Street to the East.
Bailey Park NDC proposes the alley walk experience to be equal parts museum, art gallery, and front porch oral history. Visitors will take in art work, historical photos, and narratives rich with City and neighborhood history as they walk the interior alleyway of Bailey Park. Rotating exhibits in the alley way will preserve and showcase the story of people from Detroit’s east side neighborhoods.
The project will highlight the legacies of some of the first African American doctors, lawyers, nurses and business owners that lived there. The alleyway will be an attraction where visitors are educated, enlightened and amazed. Longtime residents will enjoy seeing the stories of their place honored permanently while ensuring those stories are passed down to the next generation. The alley way walk project will preserve McDougall-Hunt's history at Bailey Park as a celebration of the City of Detroit identity. Bailey Park will be a powerful, positive symbol of McDougall-Hunt’s ongoing evolution as a historical neighborhood that values families, community, and connectivity.
