City, community groups and business partners launch recruitment drive for 2025 Motor City Makeover effort
- Citywide annual cleanup and beautification effort set for first three Saturdays in May
- Program now includes tool libraries, district mini murals, and distribution of trees, flowers and seed packets
The City of Detroit is enhancing Motor City Makeover for Detroit residents and organizations with two new features -- tool libraries and mini murals in Detroit neighborhoods –- expanding the annual cleanup and beautification effort.
The Department of Neighborhoods, community and business partners kicked off the recruitment campaign today, with beautification remaining central to the program.
Beginning this year, the City will open tool libraries at three locations to allow residents to borrow tools for cleanup and beautification efforts. The kickoff news conference took place at the tool library run by Bailey Park Neighborhood Development Corporation, 2617 Jos. Campau near East Vernor Street.
The other tool libraries are located at E. Warren Tool Library, 15631 E. Warren, and Premier Group Associates, 2221 Bellevue. Block clubs and organizations registered with the City of Detroit can borrow the tools for free. Councilmember Fred Durhal championed the idea of creating the tool libraries
In addition, the City is distributing 500 trees, 90,000 flowers and flower seed packets, all free, to groups registered for Motor City Makeover. The seed packets were provided by the City’s Office of Urban Agriculture.
Another new feature is a collaboration with the City Walls Program for the mini mural project. More than 30 artists submitted impactful designs/artwork that promote the message: Keep Detroit Clean. Residents will vote and choose the mural design for their district. The City then will work with community members to identify locations for the murals at parks, corridors and freeway service drives. Each district will have 50 mini murals, and the mural sizes are 2’ x 3’ or 3’ x 4”. The City Walls program is run by the General Services Department.
The City is calling on residents, community organizations, business owners and students to join the effort taking place the first three Saturdays in May. Organizers are emphasizing the need for residents to register in order to get a limited supply of bags and gloves, flowers and trees. Each year, more than 600 groups register for Motor City Makeover. So far, individuals and groups have registered 500 projects.
Cleaning will take place by districts on:
- May 3 - Districts 1, 2 and 3
- May 10 - Districts 4 and 5
- May 17 - Districts 6 and 7
Volunteers can sign up at motorcitymakeover.org or by calling 313-224-4415.
"Each year, Motor City Makeover gets better and better and is as much about creating beauty as it is about cleaning up," said Mayor Mike Duggan. "In addition to distributing tens of thousands of flowers and hundreds of trees, we'll also be launching our first neighborhood tool libraries that will help residents clean and beautify their neighborhoods year round."
In addition to the citywide cleanup, the City will focus on:
Summer/Fall - Cleanup Efforts with Community Groups
The City will provide bags and gloves and arrange for pickup of debris for groups with cleanup projects outside of May.
Ongoing - Promoting Recycling
The Department of Public Works will provide a free recycling container to residents who attend a recycling workshop or take the recycling quiz on the City’s Web site at detroitrecycles.org.
SPONSORS AND DONORS
So far, the City has received a total of $56,000 in financial and in-kind donations for Motor City Makeover. This year’s top sponsors are Carhartt and Ryan Hubbell Auto Parts Inc with $10,000 financial donations. Rocket Community Fund follows with its $7500 contribution.
The top in-kind sponsors include Major Contracting and Priority Waste.
“Detroit has been our home for 135 years, and we are proud to continue giving back to our local community through our partnership with the Motor City Makeover initiative,” said Amy Fencyk, Director of Corporate Stewardship at Carhartt. “This important program celebrates and supports the thousands of hardworking volunteers keeping Detroit clean and beautiful for its residents and those who visit our vibrant and dynamic city.”
Any organization or company that would like to donate to Motor City Makeover should call (313) 224-3400.
Financial Contributors:
Carthartt Ryan
Hubbell Auto Parts, Inc.
Rocket Community Fund
Michigan Recreational Construction Inc.
LuxWall Inc.
DTE Energy
DeAngelis Diamond
GTJ Field Services
Motor City Electric
In-Kind Contributors
Major Contracting
Priority Waste
2024 MCM BY THE NUMBERS
- Registered Groups – More than 600
- Number of Projects – More than 500
- Number of Flowers Distributed – 90,000 flowers (roughly more than 2000 flats)
- Number of Trees Distributed – 500
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Individuals and community groups must register with the City of Detroit Department of Neighborhoods (DON) in order to receive a limited supply of bags, gloves, flowers and trees, as well as information regarding special pickups of brush, tires, bagged litter and roll-off containers. Debris will only be collected from pre-established locations.
Individuals and groups are encouraged to:
- Register online at www.motorcitymakeover.org or call (313) 224-4415 to join the effort.
- Clean around their neighborhood, business, house of worship, or school on their designated Saturday.
- Organize their neighbors, members or employees for a massive cleanup or to board up vacant homes. Volunteers can indicate where they will clean or do board-ups when registering or call (313) 224-4415 for a location.
- Beautify their area by planting flowers, plants, or trees, or by removing graffiti, etc.
Bulk Drop-Off Locations
In addition, volunteers may take bagged litter to any of the drop-off locations listed below, which will be open on the Saturday cleanup dates. The limit is two cubic yards or 1,000 pounds. No renovation materials or debris accepted at Davison and Southfield yards.
Davison Yard - 8221 West Davison, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Southfield Yard - 12255 Southfield Road, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fons Transfer Station - 6451 E. McNichols, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Renovation materials accepted for a fee.
