Redford Township, MI

A Progressive Community That Cares

On the Cusp of its 200th Birthday This Dynamic Township Has Much to Celebrate

Redford Township may be nearing its 200th birthday, but its vitality is anything but old. This vibrant community in southeast Michigan is building a dynamic future, as it proudly celebrates the legacy of the past. According to Township Supervisor Pat McRae, what sets Redford apart isn’t just its history or location, it’s the sense of ownership residents have in their community.

“Redford is very welcoming,” he describes. “We’re diverse, and we have neighbors that like to work together. We work really hard to make sure that our community stays engaged in what’s going on, because if they’re engaged, it belongs to them as well as us.”

Growing with Intention

With more than 90 percent of the township already developed, Redford is focusing on creative reuse of existing properties and using available opportunities for strategic investment. Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding brought a major boost to the township. “We put money in capital improvements,” McRae expands.

“We put some money into the Rec and Wellness Center, and some money into our CSO basin. We maximized our money, and we went into partnership with the county so that our ARPA dollars stretched and gave us more availability. And we’ve worked with the state and the federal government to bring in funds that may be available to help us do other things here as well.”

One of the township’s most exciting projects is the new Recreation and Wellness Center. “It’s been a lengthy process,” shares Theresa Stokes, Director of Leisure Services. “This is probably one of the largest capital improvement projects we’ve taken on in a long time here in Redford Township. We wanted to make sure that we did it the right way, and that we had the buy-in and input from our residents.”

The process began with a feasibility study, where staff and community input was a priority. This included targeted focus groups, open community sessions, and discussions held during board and study meetings. “We wanted to make sure that if we’re spending this kind of money, the residents are going to want to utilize the facility,” explains Stokes. “We just came upon our one year with construction, and we are definitely on target and within budget.”

A strong team consisting of construction management, architects and the township have been crucial to the success of the project. “That group works really well together, and we were able to take the time to bid out all of the trades. We had some significant savings by doing that, and we added some additional features that some of our residents wanted to see,” she relays.

Revitalizing the Heart of Town

Redford’s downtown is an important part of its identity, and efforts to strengthen and rejuvenate this area are ongoing. “We have a pretty well-established corridor,” describes Michele Mancini, Director of Community and Economic Development. “There’s not a lot of room for new buildings, but we do have buildings that are available. We try to work with businesses that want to locate here to fill those spaces.”

The township’s Downtown Development Area (DDA) has been carefully designed to create a small town experience, with local shops and restaurants rather than large chain stores. “Our township hardware store, which is a True Value, is probably the only thing located in the DDA that’s an actual chain,” Mancini reports. “We do have one piece of property that we are looking for a development to go on, probably something like mixed retail and housing. It’s an office complex that was taken down, and it’s approximately an acre and a half.”

A notable community gathering spot is the Marquee, a multipurpose venue in the center of downtown. Used for a local farmers market in the summer, the facility is also available to rent for events like weddings, graduations, and showers. Adam Bonarek, Director of Central Operations, “It’s a really neat building that was repurposed. It’s shaped kind of like an octagon, and it used to be the township library. Instead of tearing the old building down, they converted it to this mixed use, indoor, outdoor space. It was a great way to revitalize that building.”

Growing Jobs and Business

Economic growth remains top of mind, especially when it brings new employment opportunities, although lack of land remains a challenge. “We do have some properties that are unoccupied, whether they’re on the market or being held for investment, and we try to work with owners and people that are coming to the township looking for business, to get them in the right spot,” Mancini outlines. “We coordinate with our building department to make the transition seamless.”

Redford Township is geographically distinct, offering a small-town atmosphere surrounded by larger cities. “We have I-96 that goes through town. We’re 20 minutes from Detroit, we’re 20 minutes from Ann Arbor, so it puts us in a unique situation that, if any transit is going either east or west, it’s a very good location to be,” McRae imparts. The township itself is home to major industrial players like Detroit Diesel. “Over the last 27 years, they’ve invested over a billion dollars into that facility,” Bonarek details. “They are a great partner for us.”

Building the Future

To meet the needs of an evolving community, Redford has updated its master plan to explore new residential options beyond traditional single-family homes. Bonarek acknowledges that while most of the township was originally developed for large post-war families, current needs call for greater flexibility. “We strategically put the recreation center in a place where it’s walkable and accessible, from a mobility perspective, into downtown and other parts of the township,” he conveys.

As land becomes available, the intention is to integrate higher-density residential development, specifically on decommissioned school properties. “At one point the school districts were much larger than they are today, simply because the population was different,” Bonarek recounts. “They have been actively going through the process of determining how to get rid of the schools they don’t need anymore, and how it can best be developed. That is providing that opportunity for us to potentially have a new build here in an area otherwise that’s completely developed.”

Current infrastructure projects include upgrades to water systems, with efforts underway to identify and remove lead service lines, as well as improvements to the township’s Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) basin. In partnership with Wayne County, Redford is also targeting road resurfacing across both major routes and residential streets.

Partnerships play a crucial role in the township’s success, and collaboration with entities such as the Redford Chamber of Commerce are crucial. “We have an active Chamber of Commerce here, and they do a good job,” says McRae. “They’re always looking for ways to recruit and bring more people in, that have different abilities and offerings, to our community.” The township has also built valuable partnerships with Wayne County and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Bonarek adds, “They’ve really been great partners. Michigan as a whole, through the MEDC has really been focusing on things like placemaking. We’ve had conversations with them, and they continue to work with us.”

Looking Ahead

In Redford Township, continuous growth, and adaptability are essential. “I’m a big proponent of lifelong learning, because when we stop learning, we stop growing and evolving,” remarks Bonarek. That enthusiasm is reflected across township departments. “I think the best thing about being in Leisure Services and Parks and Recreation is I get to experience being with residents pretty much daily,” says Stokes. “We get to create the memories for families within our communities.”

For Mancini, the reward lies in service. “I appreciate the opportunity to provide a service to people that really need one, and to help them. It makes my job easy to have a job where that’s the only goal I have,” she affirms.

Moving forward, the focus is on strengthening connections, expanding accessibility, and creating opportunities for development. At the center of it all is a connected and engaged township that has remained strong through generations.

“Our community cares in a lot of different ways, from the people that work here in the township, to the department heads that work too many hours, and to business owners that do fundraising for local schools and charities,” McRae underscores.

“We’re always doing things because we care, and that is a big deal for all of us.”

AT A GLANCE

Who: Redford Township, MI

What: A township with a long history and a bright future

Where: Wayne County, Michigan

Website: www.redfordtwp.gov