Summary Overview of the Engagement Tool/Innovation: 

Michigan company decided to provide support for local green spaces after years of industrialisation. This saw them set up a community advisory panel to help the company understand the needs of the local residents and help the company in making their practices and projects more beneficial to the community around them. 

Engaged the city government and community members through a series of meetings and presentations at various community groups and agencies, and through this process a structured vision for the park and associated green space was developed. 

The company had the community create signs which would inform people on the environmental history of the Rouge River as well as the social history of the area. 

Finally, the company also participated in community led green initiatives, and provided opportunities for area residents to participate in redevelopment plans. 

 

Role in decision-making: 

This tool took place over a few different stages of a project. First, was the setting up of the advisory board to understand the needs of local communities, and build future projects based off these needs, this stage took place before the start of any project. 

The next stage was the design stage, where the company kept an open dialogue with stakeholders in the form of meetings, where they began to structure the vision for a future park. 

Finally, they involved communities in the implementation, by having them work on different aspects of the project, such as finding ways to inform visitors about the local area. 

Stakeholders did not have the ultimate say on the project, however, they were provided with a prominent voice, and allowed to participate throughout most of the projects phases.