A new pedestrian pathway lined with public art connects Riley Park to the Hillside Townes development along Grand River Avenue in downtown Farmington.

The Art Park Promenade, which officially opened July 17, is drawing renewed attention this week after a Metromode feature highlighted the $427,253 walkable gathering space.

The Promenade features landscaping, seating, fencing and a centerpiece glass mural made from 672 tiles crafted by community members, assembled into 42 larger panels of 16 tiles each by local studio Fired & Fused. Construction began in late August 2025 and continued into summer 2026 ahead of the July opening.

The mural, called Make-a-Wave, was created in partnership with Fired & Fused. Residents made individual 3-by-6-inch tiles at pop-up events, including the 2025 Harvest Moon Celebration, with each tile donation helping fund additional art and furnishings for the space. "It really, truly brought the community together because everyone worked on one project separately but together, and everyone has taken ownership in this project," said Helen Agius-Andreae, Fired & Fused's owner. The finished piece earned the 2026 Main Street Oakland County District Placemaking Award in June.

The project exceeded the DDA's original $321,000 budget after all three construction bids came in above the original budget, according to Aug. 18 city council records. Warren Contractors & Development, the lowest bidder, won the contract. A $163,000 Main Street Oakland County Placemaking Grant funded by federal ARPA dollars offset part of the cost, and an anonymous $10,500 donation covered art and furnishings, according to DDA board meeting minutes from June.

DDA Executive Director Jess Westendorf oversaw the project from its early stages through completion. "It's really a way to extend that core energy of the downtown," she said. The space has already become a hub for foot traffic: "It's a great spot on the farmers market days every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m... It's also extremely busy during our Friday night concerts, just as anticipated."

The Promenade also features two installations from the Detroit Institute of Arts' Inside Out program. This fall, the DDA's public art committee plans to review more than 100 submissions for six or seven additional sculptures to be installed through the Midwest Sculpture Initiative.

An October 2025 Metromode feature described the Promenade as transforming downtown Farmington into "a living, walkable gallery" reflecting the city's artistic and economic revival. Farmington received the 2026 Great American Main Street Award, the highest national recognition for downtown revitalization.