Business View Civil & Municipal | Volme 3, Issue 2

72 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 score is amazing, and that’s simply because we are the second or third most dense community in the state of Michigan. We should have improved in the last year, because we have brand-new pedestrian bridges which makes walking much easier and safer. You can walk anywhere in Hazel Park in half an hour.” With walking trails in many local parks, residents can also enjoy outdoor workout equipment, a brand-new disc golf course, and a state-of-the-art children’s playscape. This playground was an example of the Hazel Park community spirit. “We got a grant from a private foundation for $350,000,” says Klobucher. “That was only for the materials, the community actually came together and built it a couple years ago. We brought in a bunch of community volunteers, and literally, the whole town came in and built that facility in one week.” Construction of a bike lane system was recently delayed, due to 1-75 construction, but Campbell adds, “There will be bike lanes up and down the major corridor where we are working through pre-existing scholarships or funding directly through the organization. Students can use this opportunity at any accredited trade school, community college, college, or university in the state of Michigan. “There is no reason why someone who graduates Hazel Park High School who wants to go to college, can’t go to college,” Klobucher reports. “If we can’t find you a scholarship, Promise Zone will pay for your tuition. We make that promise, and we know that it’s changed the culture of our high school, because almost every student fills out the financial aid form, and every student has an opportunity to go to college.” With only 11 Promise Zones in the state, Hazel Park is proud to offer this program. The city has also partnered with Michigan Works, to offer workforce training initiatives and job connections to help provide a skilled workforce for local industries. For a primarily urban community, Hazel Park is a walkable city. Campbell shares, “Our walkability