DETROIT – Springtime brings warmer weather, blooming flowers, and, for property owners and community groups, a chance to tackle some projects.
Having the right tools is essential for success, but getting those tools is not always convenient.
That’s why Detroit is expanding a program to help change that, giving residents a boost to beautify neighborhoods.
In the Bailey Park-McDougal Hunt area on the city’s east side, neighbor Sandra Williams said, “We do alleyways. We do all the lots that we could possibly do.”
Longtime neighbors like Sandra and Shavonne Williams are no strangers to community clean-ups.
“We do residence. We do the church in the neighborhood,” said Sandra.
This mom-and-daughter team knows that many residents struggle to access the tools needed to do their jobs right.
“We used to go to another tool place to get our tools. Now, we have our own tools, and anyone that needs a tool can come to us,” Sandra said.
That’s why the Williams family and the Bailey Park Neighborhood Development Corporation are spreading the word that it’s now one of three groups partnering with the city to run a tool library.
Johnnie Beals, a storage keeper, described the available tools: “We have regular leaf rakes. We have shovels. Regular spade shovels. Heavy-duty and regular shovels.”
Beals helped set up this tool library in Bailey Park, which is filled with various items, including weed whackers, wheelbarrows, saws, chainsaws, brooms, augers, and much more. All tools are free to any block club or organization registered with the city of Detroit.
Katrina Watkins, founder of the Bailey Park nonprofit, noted the interest in the program. “Oh, I’ve had so many calls,” said Watkins.
Additional tool libraries are located on East Warren Avenue and at Premiere Group Associates.
Workers with Detroit’s Department of Neighborhoods say this type of program was in significant demand.
“One of the biggest gaps we found was access to the tools, with limited organizations that actually have availability to tools,” said Tonie Stovall from the Department of Neighborhoods. “So, this will actually put the tools and resources in their hands to do the work that they want to do in their community.”
While registered community groups and organizations can check out any of the items in the Serve Detroit tool library for free, individual residents can also borrow tools for a small fee.
“This is going to be a big asset to the community. People are already starting to use tools for their own gardens and all of their landscaping,” Beals said.
The Williams family says the Serve Detroit tool library will also work with borrowers and provide mobile service if requested.
“If it’s a saw that needs to be manned by us, we will stay there and help them,” Shavonne said. “But if it’s just wheelbarrows or weed whackers, we will take it to you if you can’t come and get it. And then at a certain time, we’ll come and pick it up.”
