Campus Martius Park
Encyclopedia
Campus Martius Park is a re-established park in downtown Detroit, Michigan
. After the fire of 1805, Campus Martius (from the Latin
for Field of Mars, where Roman heroes walked) was the focal point of judge Augustus Woodward's plans to rebuild the city. It is where the "point of origin" of Detroit's coordinate system is located. Seven miles (11 km) north of this point is Seven Mile Road; eight miles (13 km) north is Eight Mile Road, and so on. The precise point of origin is marked by a medallion embedded in the stone walkway. It is situated in the western point of the diamond surrounding the Woodward Fountain, just in front of the park's concession building.
The park is located at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Michigan Avenue
. The original park covered several acres and was a major gathering area for citizens. The park was lost in the 1900s as the city's downtown was reconfigured to accommodate increased vehicular traffic. Hart Plaza, along the riverfront, was designed to replace Campus Martius as a point of importance. But as Hart Plaza is a primarily hard-surfaced area, many residents came to lament the lack of true park space in the city's downtown area. This led to calls to rebuild Campus Martius, the site of the Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
of the American Civil War
located across from the new Compuware Headquarters
. Grand Circus Park is on Woodward Avenue, four blocks north of Campus Martius Park.
The new Campus Martius Park was dedicated on November 19, 2004. It includes two stages, sculpture
s, public spaces and a seasonal ice skating rink.
At 1.2 acres (4,856.2 m²), the park is smaller than its predecessor, as a full restoration of the original would have required the demolition of several buildings. However, the city increased the amount of park space in the area by constructing the new Cadillac Square Park immediately to the east of Campus Martius. Cadillac Square Park opened in the summer of 2007.
The park's skating rink is designed to resemble the one at Rockefeller Center
in New York City
and is actually larger in size than the Rockefeller rink. Since its opening the rink has been operated each year by Magic Ice USA, Inc. Campus Martius Park is the home of the annual Motown Winter Blast, an event that has drawn more than 450,000 people to the downtown area every year. An annual Christmas tree lighting celebration is held there on the Monday before Thanksgiving every year. Thousands come out to hear Christmas music and count down to the tree lighting up for the start of the holiday season.
, Michigan
. The city of Detroit increased the amount of park space in the area by constructing the new park, which is immediately to the east of Campus Martius Park. Until 2001, the area where the park is located was occupied by a large bus transfer station constructed in the 1960s. From 1841 until 1891, Cadillac Square was the site of the Detroit Farmer's Market. Cadillac Square Park opened in the late summer of 2007. The city moved Bagley Memorial Fountain
to Cadillac Square from its former location on Campus Martius.
In January 2008, the city of Detroit announced plans for a new Cadillac Centre
, a $150 million mixed-use residential entertainment-retail complex attached to the Cadillac Tower
. Designed by architect Anthony Caradonna and patterned after the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
, the contemporary steel and glass 24-story skyscraper complex to be located on Campus Martius Park, was planned to begin construction in the fall of 2009, but was indefinitely postponed by the city in October of that year when the developers failed to meet key agreements with city.
The traditional French sport of pétanque
is played at Cadillac Square each workday from noon to 1 p.m. The similar Italian sport of bocce
is also played at times at Cadillac Square Park.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. After the fire of 1805, Campus Martius (from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for Field of Mars, where Roman heroes walked) was the focal point of judge Augustus Woodward's plans to rebuild the city. It is where the "point of origin" of Detroit's coordinate system is located. Seven miles (11 km) north of this point is Seven Mile Road; eight miles (13 km) north is Eight Mile Road, and so on. The precise point of origin is marked by a medallion embedded in the stone walkway. It is situated in the western point of the diamond surrounding the Woodward Fountain, just in front of the park's concession building.
Michigan Avenue
Michigan Avenue may refer to:* Michigan Avenue * Michigan Avenue , a designation for much of both current and former U.S. Route 12 in Michigan...
. The original park covered several acres and was a major gathering area for citizens. The park was lost in the 1900s as the city's downtown was reconfigured to accommodate increased vehicular traffic. Hart Plaza, along the riverfront, was designed to replace Campus Martius as a point of importance. But as Hart Plaza is a primarily hard-surfaced area, many residents came to lament the lack of true park space in the city's downtown area. This led to calls to rebuild Campus Martius, the site of the Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
The Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument is a Civil War monument located in Detroit, Michigan. This example of civic sculpture stands in a prominent downtown location on the southeast tip of Campus Martius Park where five principal thoroughfares -- Michigan Avenue, Monroe Street, Cadillac...
of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
located across from the new Compuware Headquarters
Compuware World Headquarters
Compuware World Headquarters is located at One Campus Martius, in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It began construction in 2000, and finished in 2003. It has at 18 floors in total, 16 above-ground, and 2 below-ground, and has of office space...
. Grand Circus Park is on Woodward Avenue, four blocks north of Campus Martius Park.
The new Campus Martius Park was dedicated on November 19, 2004. It includes two stages, sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s, public spaces and a seasonal ice skating rink.
At 1.2 acres (4,856.2 m²), the park is smaller than its predecessor, as a full restoration of the original would have required the demolition of several buildings. However, the city increased the amount of park space in the area by constructing the new Cadillac Square Park immediately to the east of Campus Martius. Cadillac Square Park opened in the summer of 2007.
The park's skating rink is designed to resemble the one at Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and is actually larger in size than the Rockefeller rink. Since its opening the rink has been operated each year by Magic Ice USA, Inc. Campus Martius Park is the home of the annual Motown Winter Blast, an event that has drawn more than 450,000 people to the downtown area every year. An annual Christmas tree lighting celebration is held there on the Monday before Thanksgiving every year. Thousands come out to hear Christmas music and count down to the tree lighting up for the start of the holiday season.
Cadillac Square Park
Cadillac Square Park is a re-established park in downtown DetroitDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The city of Detroit increased the amount of park space in the area by constructing the new park, which is immediately to the east of Campus Martius Park. Until 2001, the area where the park is located was occupied by a large bus transfer station constructed in the 1960s. From 1841 until 1891, Cadillac Square was the site of the Detroit Farmer's Market. Cadillac Square Park opened in the late summer of 2007. The city moved Bagley Memorial Fountain
Bagley Memorial Fountain
The Bagley Memorial Fountain is a historic fountain in Detroit. It has recently been moved from its long-time location in Campus Martius Park to a new location in just down the street in Cadillac Square Park. The fountain was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a...
to Cadillac Square from its former location on Campus Martius.
In January 2008, the city of Detroit announced plans for a new Cadillac Centre
Cadillac Centre
Cadillac Centre is a proposed contemporary complex to be constructed in downtown Detroit, Michigan on the Monroe block of Campus Martius. In January 2008, the city announced that the complex was approved for construction with groundbreaking planned for September 2009, but the project was placed on...
, a $150 million mixed-use residential entertainment-retail complex attached to the Cadillac Tower
Cadillac Tower
Cadillac Tower is a Beaux Arts skyscraper designed by the architectural firm of Bonnah & Chaffee located at 65 Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit, Michigan, not far from the Renaissance Center. The building's materials include terra cotta and brick. It was built in 1927 as the Barlum Tower and has...
. Designed by architect Anthony Caradonna and patterned after the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum of modern and contemporary art, designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, built by Ferrovial, and located in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. It is built alongside the Nervion River, which runs through the city of Bilbao to the Atlantic Coast. The...
, the contemporary steel and glass 24-story skyscraper complex to be located on Campus Martius Park, was planned to begin construction in the fall of 2009, but was indefinitely postponed by the city in October of that year when the developers failed to meet key agreements with city.
The traditional French sport of pétanque
Pétanque
Pétanque is a form of boules where the goal is, while standing inside a starting circle with both feet on the ground, to throw hollow metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet or jack. It is also sometimes called a bouchon or le petit...
is played at Cadillac Square each workday from noon to 1 p.m. The similar Italian sport of bocce
Bocce
Bocce is a ball sport belonging to the boules sport family, closely related to bowls and pétanque with a common ancestry from ancient games played in the Roman Empire...
is also played at times at Cadillac Square Park.
See also
- Cadillac Center Detroit People Mover stationCadillac Center (Detroit People Mover)Cadillac Center is a Detroit People Mover station in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It is located at the intersection of Gratiot Avenue and Library Street. The station takes its name from Cadillac Square, which is adjacent to the Campus Martius Park. It also serves the headquarters for Compuware...
- Detroit International RiverfrontDetroit International RiverfrontThe Detroit International Riverfront is an area of Detroit, Michigan that borders the Detroit River. The International Riverfront area extends from the Ambassador Bridge in the west to Belle Isle in the east, extending a total of 5½-miles and encompassing a multitude of parks, restaurants, retail...
- Grand Circus Park Historic District