Big News for Westland! Construction of a Massive $12M Park Set to Begin
Westland is buzzing with excitement as city officials gear up to start construction on a humongous park costing almost $12 million.
The planned park, christened Nankin Square, will sprawl across 3.9 acres between the city’s main fire station and Westland Community Health Center. If all goes according to plan, ground-breaking is set for this month, and the park will be opened up for enjoyment by September 2025.
The best part? Officials hope this brand new park will breathe life into the nearby Westland Mall property. Long called an eyesore by locals, the mall property can hopefully get a new lease on life with Nankin Square acting as a catalyst for its redevelopment.
Not just your average park, Nankin Square has grand plans to feature an amphitheater, a grand lawn, exciting play zones for kiddos, and a stroll-worthy walking path. Love food trucks? You’re in for a treat, as there’s space allocated for that too! The park also plans on hosting a variety of outdoorsy events, from fitness fests to live concerts.
City officials reckon that Nankin Square will transform the property around it into a prime spot for a mixed-use development. Pretty cool, right? They hope this will give Westland (which is missing a traditional downtown district) a much-needed spruce-up and attract young families while at it.
Funding for this ambitious project comes from Westland’s Tax Increment Finance Authority, which has pitched in $8 million. The remaining amount is covered by grants from Wayne County and the State of Michigan. The total project cost expected hovers around a whopping $11.6 million.
