Campus Martius in Detroit named No. 1 Best Public Space in nation by USA Today readers
Campus Martius Park in Detroit has been named the No. 1 Best Public Space in the nation in USA Today's 2024 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Campus Martius, according to readers, serves as Detroit’s gathering place, where locals and visitors alike can come to take in the skyline views, people-watch around the Woodward Fountain, grab a meal from a food truck, or go ice skating in winter.
In the summer, you can also watch a movie, listen to live music or play in the sand there.
Public squares have long been the keystones of American communities, serving as the stage for everything from farmers’ markets to historic speeches, according to 10Best. They're the heartbeats of cities, where culture pulses and people gather, it says.
Readers voted on a list of 20 public squares that were nominated by a panel of experts as the best in the US, not just for their aesthetic value, but also their historical significance and communal importance, according to 10Best.
Campus Martius is having a moment right now, as it will take center stage when the NFL draft comes to town next week.
Although the draft, from April 25-27, will span from Campus Martius to Hart Plaza in downtown with additional events in Beacon Park, Capitol Park, Grand Circus Park, Harmonie Park, and along Woodward Avenue, the main draft stage is at Campus Martius and Cadillac Square.
Other 2024 USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice winners
Best Museum: Detroit Science Center
Best Art Museum: Detroit Institute of Arts
Best Brewery Tours: Bell's Brewery in Comstock
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Campus Martius in Detroit named Best Public Space by USA Today readers