Kayak the Canals of Detroit!

CM credit hours for mobile workshops are awarded based on the planned dedicated instructional time. Adjustments to CM hours will not be made after the live event.

In 2019, as a part of the City of Detroit's Strategic Neighborhood Fund program, the Planning Department completed a Neighborhood Framework Plan that laid out investment in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood. That same year, FEMA redrew its Flood Information Rate Maps, which put the entire neighborhood in the one percent flood zone. In June 2021, severe flooding caused sewage-flooded basements and streets when heavy rainfall overwhelmed the combined stormwater and sewer infrastructure. The combination of extreme flooding and FEMA's designation stalled framework plan implementation, including private and public investment. In 2019, Detroit requested U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assistance to identify effective long-term flood mitigation strategies.

One potential solution for removing the neighborhood's FIRM designation is temporarily closing the Detroit River's canal entrances during high-water situations. Residents who feel the canals and the recreational value they provide are a vital neighborhood asset resisted this proposal,.

This tour offers a look at the challenges of community investment in response to climate change, community resilience, and city engagement. Presenters discuss methods for finding balanced solutions to community challenges through deliberate and thoughtful engagement and iterative, flexible design.