from “le détroit” · the strait
On October 17 and 18, 2026, the City of Detroit will hand out unused brick pavers pulled up during the Virginia Park streetscape project to residents of the construction zone, free and first come, first served.
Update, October 6, 2026: The City of Detroit says this brick pickup is only for Virginia Park residents in the streetscape construction zone. It isn't open to the public.
The City of Detroit is giving historic brick pavers back to the people who live on Virginia Park, and all they need to bring is gloves and a way to haul them home.
On October 17 and 18, 2026, the Department of Public Works will hand out unused and unsalvageable brick pavers pulled up during the Virginia Park streetscape construction project. The pickup is only for Virginia Park residents in the streetscape construction zone, and it isn't open to the public, the city's Department of Public Works press office told Strait Journal. It's free, it happens along the roadway in front of 801 Virginia Park, and the city is calling it Community Brick Reclaiming Day.
Materials are first come, first served. The city says there will be other brick pickup events for residents who can't make these dates.
The bricks come out of a much bigger job. Virginia Park Road is getting a full curb-to-curb reconstruction, from the John C. Lodge Freeway to Woodward Avenue, with the historic 30-foot-wide roadway's brick surface and stone curbs being replaced. The work also covers concrete sidewalk repairs, ADA-compliant crosswalk ramps, new shade trees, and site furnishing upgrades. Construction started in late summer 2026 and is scheduled to wrap in fall 2027. The estimated construction cost is $5,278,100.
Reusable bricks are being salvaged for the rebuild. The ones headed to residents are the leftovers, the pavers the project can't put back.
A few rules keep it safe. Don't take bricks from the pallets, steer clear of active construction areas, and secure your material before leaving. Park legally and respectfully. The city notes that participation is voluntary and at your own risk, and that you're responsible for safely loading and hauling what you take.
The city is handing a piece of a historic Detroit street straight back to the people who live around it. Set a few of these pavers into a garden path and you've kept a literal piece of the block.
If you live in the construction zone, show up at 801 Virginia Park on October 17 or 18 with gloves and transportation equipment. Questions can go to the DPW Engineering Division at 313-224-3949.
Correction, October 6, 2026: An earlier version of this story said the brick pickup was open to the public. The City of Detroit says it's only for Virginia Park residents in the streetscape construction zone.
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