Are Detroit's Downtown Spaces Welcoming Enough for Youth?

Detroit City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero is pushing the city to rethink how it treats young people downtown, raising concerns Monday that youth were “overpoliced” over the weekend and that the city’s core lacks spaces where teens actually feel welcome.

Santiago-Romero brought the issue up during the council’s Public Health and Safety subcommittee meeting, after a string of public commenters flagged concerns about youth during a weekend that saw Tigers Opening Day crowds and a surge of young people in the downtown area. Some of those young people were detained by officers.

“Because, let’s be honest, downtown does become a place for adults to come and drink but we need to have a welcoming place and inviting space for youth as well,” Santiago-Romero said.

The free bus program that changes the math

The backdrop here is the city’s new “Ride to Rise” program, which launched this month and gives Detroit students ages 5 to 18 free Detroit Department of Transportation bus rides, seven days a week, at any time. Public, private, and charter school students all qualify. They show a school ID. That’s it.

The goal is to help kids get to school more reliably and reach afterschool programming. But the practical effect, especially come summer, is that more young people will have the means to move around the city freely. That’s a good thing. The question Santiago-Romero is raising now is whether downtown is actually ready to receive them.

It’s not a small question.

Hart Plaza and the Campus Martius problem

Santiago-Romero called out Campus Martius by name, saying it’s “essentially roped off” for anyone under 21. She’s right that the park’s setup, anchored by bars and alcohol-forward programming, does little to signal that teenagers are welcome. Not exactly subtle.

Her alternative: use Hart Plaza as a dedicated, organized gathering space for youth. She said the riverfront plaza isn’t nearly as active as it could be. Given that Hart Plaza sits on the Detroit River, covers about 14 acres, and hosts major events throughout the year, the bones are there. What’s missing is intentional programming aimed at younger residents.

“That usually is not a space that is as active as I believe it could be,” she said.

Santiago-Romero also called for deescalation training, not just for young people but, as she put it, “for all of us.” She said discussions on wraparound services for youth need to happen soon. After budget deliberations wrap up, she said she plans to invite Mayor Mary Sheffield’s administration to share summer plans, specifically asking for the administration’s dedicated youth liaison to present to the subcommittee.

The transit side of this

Detroit transit ambassador Michael Cunningham spoke up in support of Ride to Rise, calling Sheffield’s free bus offering for students “awesome.” But he was candid about the rollout challenges ahead. He said the city will need volunteers on hand, clear restrictions on travel times, and visible signage so riders know where to report problems, particularly at night during summer months.

“I’m not saying our youth are bad, but some of them have no respect for elders at all like we did,” Cunningham said.

It’s a tension that runs through the whole conversation. The city is expanding access, which is the right call. But expanded access without expanded support infrastructure drops responsibility onto bus drivers, downtown business owners, and law enforcement. That’s the gap Santiago-Romero is trying to close before summer hits.

What to watch

BridgeDetroit first reported on the subcommittee discussion and the comments from Santiago-Romero and Cunningham.

The budget process will shape what’s actually possible. If Sheffield’s administration doesn’t come to the table with concrete summer programming plans for downtown youth spaces, this stays a conversation instead of becoming policy. Santiago-Romero said she wants to hear specifics after budget deliberations, which means the window is roughly late spring.

The Ride to Rise rollout itself will be a test. If students start using the system heavily and something goes wrong, the political pressure to add restrictions will be immediate. Getting volunteers, signage, and support structures in place before that happens matters.

“This is going to be another cultural shift that we need to do in embracing our young people downtown,” Santiago-Romero said.

Detroit has spent years building a downtown that draws visitors. The harder project is building one that’s actually for the people who live here.