More Tribute sculptures coming to Woodward Ave.

Detroit and Pontiac are the next cities in line to install tribute sculptures on their section of the famed Woodward Avenue corridor.

They are part of the Woodward Avenue Action Association's Tribute Project, which is building the sculptures along Michigan's Main Street to raise awareness about its important place in history. The sculptures are normally a robust column a story or two tall that depict part of Woodward's illustrious history.

Detroit's sculpture will be built next to the Spirit of Detroit at the intersection of Woodward and Jefferson avenues in downtown. It will have a theme of labor. The Pontiac sculpture's theme will center on transportation. Its location is still being determined.

A combination of federal funds and a local match are paying for the projects. Construction on both is expected to begin late this spring or early this summer.

"They're going to cost significantly less than the Ferndale one because that was the test case," says Nicole Brown, outreach and promotions coordinator with the Woodward Avenue Action Association.

These cities are following the lead of downtown Ferndale, which erected the first column in 2008. The idea is to tell Woodward Avenue's story and increase tourism through 30-foot-high interpretive themed columns made mainly of glass and concrete.

The sculptures will be internally illuminated to help depict visual elements of Woodward's past, present and future, such as its history in autos, technology, and music. Portions of these sculptures are being paid for by National Scenic Byway grants.

Source: Nicole Brown, outreach and promotions coordinator with the Woodward Avenue Action Association
Writer: Jon Zemke

More Tribute sculptures coming to Woodward Ave.

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