City Leaders in Inkster Working to Adopt 2024 Master Plan

Since taking on the role of mayor once again in the city of Inkster, Byron Nolen says his goal is to grow the city and its ability to provide essential services to improve the lives of residents there. Nolen was sworn in as Mayor of Inkster in January, after incumbent Mayor Patrick Wimberly lost his re-election bid last November.

Nolen says economic development is key to the city's success and cites recent and ongoing improvements at Inkster's two Wayne County Parks, Colonial Park and Inkster Park, thanks to $3 million in grant money from Wayne County. "Colonial Park has already been renovated with a new parking lot and the bathrooms are excellent, they're brand new. Now we're building a kayak and boat launch, new pavilions at Inkster Park, we're creating two new parking lots, building a soccer field and basketball courts so that will give us the opportunity to have basketball and soccer tournaments and it's right in downtown and that gives us a lot of flexibility from a recreational standpoint to do a lot of different things in downtown Inkster, which will bring people from other communities here," he says.

The city of Inkster has been utilizing state and federal funding to improve the public space at the northeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Inkster Road. The Inkster Task Force's Farmer's Market had been held at that location this past summer and Nolen says he wants to see the space renovated for a variety of public uses, including a rebuilt amphitheater. He says, "All this is going to make Inkster a recreation-event type of destination, which will be great for the city. We're hoping the businesses spur other economic development around it and all down Michigan Avenue to give people a reason to come here and spend some time."

All these improvements in Inkster are being done in conjunction with the city's Master Plan, which is currently being updated. A city's master plan is essentially a roadmap for growing a community and keeping it strong, Nolen and city leaders are eager for input from residents regarding what they want to see in their city. Early in August at the Inkster Police Department's annual National Night Out, comment boards were set up allowing attendees of the event to voice their opinions about what issues in the city ought to take priority. The effort was a success, receiving numerous comments across a range of topics. A lifelong and dedicated resident of Inkster, Nolen says it is essential to the Master Plan process that his neighbors have a say in what they want their city to look like, and adds that city leaders hope to have a rough draft completed by Thanksgiving.

In addition to transforming Inkster into an inviting destination, Nolen says the city is developing plans for addressing the housing shortage the city is struggling with. Thus far, resident input suggests the challenge be met via new apartment buildings and affordable homes. Redevelopment of existing housing which is considered old and high maintenance and development of existing city properties will be part of that plan as well, says Nolen. "The neighborhoods will look better with new housing. Everybody should live with dignity and feel good about where they live at," he adds.

There is more the mayor wants to see in Inkster to help the city to grow and thrive. "My vision is to see sports bars, restaurants, service businesses, those types of business that people want. Every community should have certain things and that's what we're missing out on. As I look at the other communities around us, they're missing it also," he says. Another move that would benefit the city would be the creation of more office spaces for businesses to occupy. He adds, "We don't have doctors' offices, lawyers' offices, accountants, we don't have that in Inkster. We want to address that with some of the developments we're doing along Michigan Avenue, we have to have some space that people can lease out and run their businesses from. We're going to look at that when we create the Master Plan to try and carve out some areas where you may have offices or even a technology center."

Nolen adds that it is not too late for Inkster residents to have their voices heard as the city's Master Plan is being assembled. Residents can attend a city council meeting, call their city councilmember, or even Mayor Nolen himself. A survey can be found at https://mckenna.mysocialpinpoint.com/inkster-master-plan. Read more about the upcoming 2024 Master Plan at https://www.cityofinkster.com