CITY OF DETROIT PROVIDES INFORMATION ON CLOSURES, PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION FOR JUNE 26 FORD FIREWORKS
Viewing Areas, Closed Parks and Curfew Information Also Announced
Hundreds of thousands of spectators will line the shores of the Detroit River to enjoy the Ford Fireworks June 26. To make it an enjoyable experience, the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan will enforce access restrictions to Hart Plaza and Belle Isle. In addition, a number of riverside parks will be closed June 26.
VIEWING AREAS
These locations will be CLOSED:
- RiverWalk in its entirety including Milliken State Park/Harbor
- AB Ford Park, 100 Lenox
- Gabriel Richard Park, 7130 E. Jefferson
- Mariner Park, 14700 Riverside Blvd.
- Lakewood East, 14578 Riverfront Blvd.
- Erma Henderson Park, 8800 E. Jefferson Ave.
- Owens Park, 8430 E. Jefferson Ave.
- Stockton Park, 9250 Dwight
- Maheras-Gentry Park, 12550 Avondale
- Elliott Park, 110 Mt. Elliott
- Riverside Park
The following locations have been identified as the best viewing sites:
- Hart Plaza
- Belle Isle (viewing from the MacArthur Bridge will not be permitted)
- Spirit Plaza
Hart Plaza and Spirit Plaza
Both Hart Plaza and Spirit Plaza are open to the general public, but pedestrian set-ups and/or gatherings will not be permitted before 2 p.m. on June 26.
Both plazas will be open until capacity is reached. No re-admittance into Hart Plaza or Spirit Plaza. Those entering either plaza will be subject to security screening. Coolers and backpacks also will be searched.
- No tents, alcohol, drones, pets, or contraband (weapons, knives, etc.) will be allowed.
- Flames or fires are prohibited, and cooking is prohibited.
- Fireworks are not allowed.
- Reserving an area in excess of the number of people currently in the group is prohibited.
Belle Isle
Belle Isle will be closed on Monday, June 26 until 2 p.m. At that time, the island will open to vehicular traffic until capacity is reached. The Island will open at 5 a.m. to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Motorists will need the Recreation Passport to enter the island. The passport, which is only needed for vehicles, may be purchased at the entrance for $13. The passport is $11 for out-of-state and international visitors for the day. Once island capacity is reached, no additional vehicles will be admitted to the park. To get updates on when the island is full, text GEM to 80888.
Belle Isle Park officials issued these reminders:
- Alcohol consumption is prohibited on the island.
- No tents and canopies allowed.
- From 2 – 4 p.m., all vehicles will be directed to the paddock area (except those with valid ADA placards)
- RV parking will be on the paddock area near the Casino.
- Consumer fireworks are prohibited on the island.
MUNICIPAL PARKING
The Municipal Parking Department also will not enforce parking meters after 5 p.m. on June 26. However, motorists are advised to observe parking restrictions. Parking violators will be ticketed, and in some instances, vehicles may be towed. Motorists will be ticketed for:
- Improper parking (vehicles within 20 feet from crosswalk; within 15 feet from an intersection; within 30 feet of a stop sign or traffic control device; and within 15 feet of a fire hydrant)
- Parking in front of fire hydrants and bus stops or blocking driveways and alleys.
- Parking in designated zones, such as handicap zones (without proper credentials), fire lanes, no parking zones or no standing zones
Parking Facilities
MPD will offer parking at these City-owned garages.
Ford Underground Garage 6 a.m. – 1 a.m. $10
30 E. Jefferson
Eastern Market Garage 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. $10
2727 Riopelle Street
Fireworks viewing from any parking facility and tailgating are prohibited. For more information, call (313) 221-2500 or go online to detroitmi.gov/parking.
TOWING
Vehicles will be retrieved by the company that towed the vehicle. Individuals should talk with a DPD officer to determine the location of their vehicle.
STREET AND FREEWAY CLOSURES
The following traffic changes will go into effect at approximately 6 p.m. on June 26:
- No northbound or southbound traffic will be allowed on Woodward Avenue beginning at Park and Witherell. Motorists may cross Woodward at John R/Clifford, Grand River, and State/Gratiot.
- All streets south of Fort and west of Woodward will be closed.
- All streets south of Congress and east of Woodward will be closed.
- Beginning at 6 p.m., freeways will begin to close. *
* The Detroit Police Department reserves the right to request closure of the freeways and surfaces streets earlier or later, depending on the volume of vehicle traffic.
CURFEW ENFORCEMENT
The City will enforce its existing curfew for minors, ages 18 and under, that will be in effect from 8 p.m. on June 26 until 6 a.m. on June 27 for the area bounded by the Detroit River, Rosa Parks Blvd., Lodge Freeway, Fisher Freeway, the extension of Fisher Freeway east to include Gratiot Avenue, Vernor Highway, Chene Street, Atwater Street and Chene Park.
Minors are welcome to view the fireworks from any approved public area. However, for their safety, minors must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult (age 21 or over) if they choose to view from within the curfew boundaries. Minors will be allowed to travel to and from work, school, church or organized activities.
Minors in violation of the curfew will be taken to the Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval. Minors will be held there until picked up by a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian also shall receive a parental responsibility violation ticket.
LOST CHILDREN
Parents can find lost children in these locations:
- Huntington Place (formerly TCF Center/Cobo Center), off Atwater Dr. in the atrium
- Detroit Police Department 3rd Precinct, 2875 W. Grand Blvd. (313) 596-5300
- Detroit Police Department 4th Precinct, 4700 W. Fort Street (313) 596-5400
- Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval, 628-2100
DETROIT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
For bus riders, the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) issued these reminders:
On June 26 from 5 – 11 p.m., the following east side routes will end at the Bricktown People Mover Station on Beaubien between Congress and Lafayette. The affected routes are Van Dyke/Lafayette (#5), Gratiot (#6), Jefferson (#9), Russell (#40), Chene (#52), and Cadillac/Harper (#67).
Bus passengers may take the People Mover at the Bricktown Station to get to the Rosa Parks Transit Center exiting at the Times Square/Grand River People Mover Station. Passengers at the Rosa Parks Transit Center traveling east should board the People Mover at the Times Square/Grand River Station and exit at the Bricktown Station to board eastbound coaches staged on Beaubien near the station.
Woodward (#4) will lay over at the Rosa Parks Transit Center.
DDOT employees in neon yellow vests will provide free People Mover tokens for passengers needing to reach the Rosa Parks Transit Center or buses on Beaubien near the Bricktown People Mover Station.
For more information regarding DDOT service, call (313) 933-1300.
DETROIT PEOPLE MOVER
The Detroit People Mover (DPM) will operate from 7 a.m. – midnight. DPM trains will bypass Huntington Place, Millender Center and Renaissance Center stations beginning at 2 p.m. on June 26. These stations will reopen for regular service on June 27.
Financial District Station is the closest DPM station within walking distance of Hart Plaza. It is the next station before Millender Center and nearest to Huntington Place from the street.
These DPM stations will remain open to the public until midnight: Michigan, Fort-Cass, West Riverfront, Financial District, Bricktown, Greektown, Cadillac, Broadway, Times Square and Grand Circus Park. The People Mover is 75 cents to ride for all passengers and free for children ages 5 and under.
For more information, go online to www.thepeoplemover.com or call (313) 224-2160.
