Chevy Commons, Flint MI - Healing a scar in the middle of the city

[robk1982]

Chevy Commons is a newly-formed park in heart of Flint. It is located along the Flint River, in the area formerly known as Chevy-In-The-Hole. At one time, around 20 buildings housed tens of thousands of GM employees. Only one building remains today - the rest were torn down and the site was covered with a concrete slab. Due to the high levels of contamination, the decision was about 5 years ago to turn this area into a park by simply covering the concrete with dirt and planting trees and other vegetation. A new pedestrian bridge connects this area to downtown.

Even though I work nearby and have kept up with the news about the development of this park, this was my first time walking through. I started with a beer at Tenacity Brewing (old firehouse on the right). This picture is looking east towards downtown, and the river is right behind me.
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New pedestrian bridge
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Kayak Flint has recently opened behind Tenacity and offers kayak rentals for trips down the river.
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The converenge of Swartz Creek and the Flint River
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Looking down Swartz Creek
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Looking across the river at the historic, 10,000 seat Atwood Stadium and Hurley Hospital
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The lone industrial building
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Looking back towards downtown
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Kettering University in the background. Their auto proving grounds is directly across the river
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The main parking lot for Chevy Commons is on the west side of the site, just south of Kettering
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Walking back east, towards downtown got me closer to this building
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The other parking lot for the park
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