DTE Energy unveils plans for new public park

DETROIT, June 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Against the backdrop of historic and restored buildings, a transformation began today as DTE Energy broke ground and shared its plan for a 1.5 acre public park to energize the western edge of downtown Detroit. The park will serve as a vibrant green space to anchor the emerging neighborhood, spur economic development and provide a spot for residents, visitors and employees to gather, play, eat and enjoy entertainment.

"We see this as an opportunity to create connectivity in an area of the city that has 'lived on an island' for decades. Our vision and promise is to transform this piece of land into a magnificent public green space that will benefit the city and its people for generations to come," said Gerry Anderson, DTE Energy chairman and CEO. "This park will serve as a catalyst for future development, and builds upon our strong roots in the community. For more than a century, DTE has been an integral piece of Detroit's history and we see this as a continuation of our efforts to be a force for growth and prosperity in the city's revitalization."

The park will feature a year-round restaurant and a central lawn with intimate walking paths and areas to sit, relax and recharge; a multiuse space for outdoor, programmed activities; a roll-in stage for performances; areas for food truck vendors; and bicycle parking.

"For all of the construction and redevelopment we are seeing in greater downtown, providing access to green space is just as important to our city's growth," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. "Thank you to DTE for building this incredible new multi-use park that will help to link downtown with the arena district and bring us another step closer to having a world-class walkable city."

During the groundbreaking, Anderson revealed the new renderings for the park and the restaurant. The contemporary building, which will have three moveable walls that can open during the warmer seasons, will offer:

• A free-flowing design for the bar and eating areas that can hold up to 75 guests
• A 735 square-foot roof deck for a panoramic view of the city, able to hold nearly 50 people
• A sustainable, green roof space that is designed to conserve and collect runoff water to repurpose it for other trees, grass and plants
• A theatrical, upward cantilever roof that extends over the sidewalk for unique flair and to pay homage to Detroit's historic structures

DTE will work with the Downtown Detroit Partnership to develop park programming and identify a restaurant operator to attract visitors of all ages.

The park is scheduled for completion in 2017. The construction costs are being funded by a separate non-utility DTE business, not by customers. A crowd-sourcing campaign will be held closer to the grand opening to solicit suggestions from the community to name the park.

About DTE Energy

DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide.

Its operating units include an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy portfolio includes non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy marketing and trading.  As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE Energy is a force for growth and prosperity in the 450 Michigan communities it serves in a variety of ways, including philanthropy, volunteerism and economic progress. For more information about DTE Energy, visit dteenergy.com twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.

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SOURCE DTE Energy