Through the courtesy of the Detroit Board of Education, an independent school district, we have been furnished a statement of the projects which they have planned for early construction.

Their total projects, if implemented, would provide the following jobs, in improvements and construction:

Blunt, cold figures are often not as helpful as explanations of the items for which they stand.

On the following pages you will find descriptive explanations of the work which will be done in execution of the projects which were detailed in the preceding section.

Airport

NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS

Federal requirements of minimum safety and eligibility for project matching funds require City Airport to acquire 7.8 acres of land at the southwest corner of the field, removal of the Aeromechanics School, a factory and 49 homes, to permit lengthening the main runway by 515 feet, to 5,100 feet. These additions and improvements will cost an estimated $259,000.

The present undersized and outmoded control tower should be replaced, to provide more personnel space and up-to-date navigational aid equipment, including a necessary instrument landing system and radar facilities. The site of

the proposed new control tower will improve sight control of approaches to all runways; the proposed control tower, with 16,000 square feet of floor area, will be adequate to control traffic at Detroit City Airport's maximum potential capacity. The project cost is $730,000.

To increase the safety of aircraft in approaches and takeoffs, utility poles and high wires which border the airport on McNichols Road between French Road and Connor Avenue will be removed. This project is warranted by the heavy volume of usage at Detroit City Airport, which saw 164,995 landings or takeoffs in 1961, the most at any Michigan airport.

The present administration building was constructed in 1928 and is a reconverted hangar facility. Besides being obsolete, there is a definite need for additional tenant space. The proposed administration building will cover 25,000 square feet of usable space and will be two stories high.

Civic center

Plaza development and beautification will complete the site settings of Detroit's $100 million Civic Center, which contains our City-County Building, Ford Auditorium, Veterans Memorial Building, Cobo Hall and Convention Arena. In this area, a broad improvement plan will include concourse ways, public restrooms, park areas, an artificial ice skating rink, reflecting pool and other esthetic attractions to enhance the color, character and attractiveness of the civic center.

Firefighting facilities

To maintain and improve the hydrant system, Detroit has planned both short and long-term facility upgrading under a continuing program.

An addition to Engine House 59 is necessary to provide office, quartering and garage space for a chief at that station.

Telegraph building repair is required to rectify a potentially unsafe condition. New fire station construction will replace an outmoded facility, and add protection to two areas which require increased protective service.

Flood control project

In April of 1947, a flood on the Rouge River exceeded all previous records by as much as 10 feet in depth. Since both existing sewers and those planned for the future were dependent upon maintaining a predictable level on the Rouge River, work began immediately to improve the natural channel, in order to accommodate the flood flows being produced by increased urban development in the Rouge drainage basin.

Detroit's city engineer, the Wayne County Road Commission and the U.S. Army Engineers have combined efforts, and have been assigned to a flood control study project for the Rouge River.

The U.S. Army Engineers have determined that the reach of the Rouge River between Michigan Avenue and the Detroit River qualifies for a Federal grant and have so recommended. This matter is now before Congress for appropriation of funds. The cost of the project is estimated at $20 million.

The public work project set forth here is additional work, over and above that proposed to be done by the U.S. Army Engineers. It extends the benefit of the improvements back into the drainage basin where development is predominantly residential and contains well over a half million people.

Expenditure of $10 million on this project would affect the local economy by adding the following work opportunities: 500 man-years of direct labor and 250 man-years of indirect labor.

In addition, if funds are appropriated by Congress for the U.S. Army-approved project estimated to cost $20 million, the local economy would benefit by the addition of the following job opportunities: 1,000 man-years of direct labor and 500 man-years of indirect labor.

Hospital improvements

To maintain an adequate standard of care for patients of city hospitals, and to provide necessary facilities, major capital equipment and structural improvements, a total of $1,146,000 in short- and long-range capital expenditures will be required. These funds will provide for renewal of electrical systems and other utility improvements, health centers and a prenatal clinic, a residence for nurses, and the rehabilitation and modernization of our hospitals.

House of correction improvements

A serious necessity exists to provide the dormitory buildings and work buildings of the house of correction with electrical system improvements which will bring these facilities up to modern standards. As the principal detention site for Wayne County adult male misdemeanants, and the State of Michigan's only women's prison, both divisions of the institution are at peak capacity. The electrical rehabilitation of both men's division and women's division dormitories will modify and improve original installations, which were constructed during the 1920's.

Highway, street and alley improvements

The street improvement program selected for acceleration is a realistic program. Only those types of projects have been included which can be started within a reasonably short time, and can be completed within one construction

season.

Sufficient engineering data is available for these projects to perform the work both through private contract and through city forces, which could be expanded. The addition of $24 million worth of projects added to the city's normal program of $8 million per season, totaling $32 million for an accelerated program, will result in a total of 3,750 persons in the labor force for a 32-week period. This is an increase of 2,813 persons in the labor force.

The program is realistic because of these considerations:

(1) It takes into consideration the physical limitations of contractors available in the area, procurement of certain materials to be obtained on short notice (portland cement, aggregate, drainage pipe, steel) and the limitation of the production facilities needed to manufacture materials for inclusion in the projects, such as asphalt materials.

(2) Minimum interference with traffic while this work is underway.

(3) Essential need of these capital improvement projects is established, and will benefit the community.

(4) These efforts would significantly reduce unemployment in the community. Additional reasons exist, demonstrating the program's desirability. There remain 250 miles of unpaved streets within the city; 85 miles are front streets and 165 miles are side streets. These detract from the adjacent properties, through dirt, dust, and nuisance. In some seasons of the year, essential vehicles have difficulty traveling on these unpaved streets, which become nearly impassable.

From a total of 1,500 miles started in 1947, 600 miles of streets require resurfacing; 30 bridges need major repairs; 400 miles of curbs must be replaced. At our present rate, 10 miles of curb will be replaced: with acceleration, some 60 miles could be replaced.

Within the last 10 years, Detroit has paved and resurfaced residential streets, rebuilt and resurfaced major streets. Some boulevard-type streets have been built through the redevelopment areas and downtown business district; major east-west streets have been widened and Washington Boulevard extended and widened, from the hotel district to the civic center. In addition, both major and minor bridge repairs have been made throughout the city.

Also, in the past 10 years, Detroit has allocated over $20 million to the State highway department, as our share of the cost for freeways and other State trunklines within the city. Currently, Detroit payments exceed $2 million per year,

which go toward construction of 24 miles of completed expressways and some 16 miles now under construction.

Lighting system improvements and extensions

Long-term plans of the lighting commission project a program over the next 10 years, at normal construction rates. Projects are part of the commission's continuing capital improvements program.

Residential and main streets are being relighted with new fixtures that increase the degree of illumination. This new lighting is an effective aid in combating street crimes against persons; it aids traffic safety and business development.

Conduit construction and service extensions are carried out to increase the capacity and reliability of the power distribution system to meet increased load requirements. Changes in mechanical and electrical design, new equipment, and other improvements are needed to carry increased system demands.

Additional funds made available to carry out the citywide lighting program would means acceleration of construction and quicker fulfillment of documented needs. This acceleration would also enable improvements to the city's emergency communications systems, adding to the substation network, and extending the power service system.

Relocation of the lighting commission's headquarters building, a $6 million item, is a much needed project for which funds are not presently available. This headquarters includes the system control center, testing facilities, maintenance facilities, and the engineering and administrative offices. Present facilities are antiquated and obsolete, and relocation of them would clear valuable civic center land for suitable development.

Parking facilities

Three sites for underground parking structures are planned. Feasibility studies on two sites have been completed, and have proven the need for these projects in the areas for which they are planned. The third site is under a feasibility study, which will indicate an essential public need when the study is complete, on the basis of early findings. The three projects will cost a total of $6,800,000 estimated cost, with a total of 1,020,000 man-hours of direct and indirect labor involved.

Parks and recreation

Provisions for municipal parks, play areas, and year-round recreation are considered as important a function of city government as the maintenance of adequate police, fire, and health protection, water supply, and other city-provided services.

Public interest today focuses upon needed improvements and additions. Parks, playfields, tot-lots and parkways total 5,850 acres and the department spends $12 million yearly for land development. Play areas range from half-acre neighborhood tot-lots to multiacre parks. These facilities are visited annually by 30 million persons.

In the summer, 432 locations are supervised for 400,000 vacationing youngsters, adults, and senior citizens. During the winter months a diversified program is conducted at 247 centers.

Fieldhouses, playfield shelters, and comfort stations will provide necessary washroom facilities, lockers, meeting rooms, and storage space for equipment at 65 locations for $1,275,000.

Land totaling 600 acres will be developed at $5,000 per acre.

With thousands of registered craft, Detroit is rapidly becoming the world's capital for sailing and boating of all kinds. A marina at Engel Park for $981,300, launching ramps at St. Jean and at 24th Street costing $418,000, and anchorage at the civic center for $250,000 will make available additional needed water facilities.

Recreation centers costing $300,000 at Hope Playfield in northwest Detroit and Maheras Playfield on the East Side will give these areas a wonderful facility. Outdoor swimming pools, 75 feet long, with locker rooms, showers, and equipment, at an estimated cost of $250,000 each, are planned in six locations. Sixteen artificial ice rinks for $125,000 includes the cost of laying the required slab, and machinery. A total of 491,131 persons skated last season at the 9 existing rinks.

Lighted baseball fields at Chandler Park, Northwestern playfield, and Patton Park would boost the evening participation for older teenagers and adults.