Detroit’s urban development agency, the Downtown Detroit Partnership, has partnered with urban sidewalk kiosk specialist IKE Smart City and the City of Detroit to launch information kiosks across the city. These kiosks are located in various locations in central Detroit and across the city.

The Downtown Detroit Partnership is a development agency that aims at the urban renewal of the central part of Detroit City. IKE digital kiosks are designed to provide smart city services in public locations. Their kiosks have been adopted by cities including Berkeley, Houston, Tampa, Miami and St Louis.

Central Detroit has historically faced major challenges brought on by de-industrialisation and suburbanisation, with the central city district being hollowed out and suffering a significant decline in population during the 1980s-1990s. The decline culminated in a financial crisis for the city in 2013, when it declared bankruptcy. Since 2013, the city has aimed for major renewal of urban infrastructure in its central district as well as several neighbourhood revitalisation initiatives. The city is also attracting increasing numbers of visitors and tourists due to its position as a centre of popular culture.

The sidewalk kiosks are aimed at supporting these urban renewal initiatives and helping tourists and visitors during their time in Detroit.

Located in Jefferson-Chalmers, Midtown, Downtown, Southwest Detroit, and Corktown, the kiosks offer a variety of information including transit and public safety, a business directory, job postings, and a list of free wi-fi hotspots. The kiosks have an emergency call button connecting with first responders. They also have special interactive features such as selfie stations, games, and opinion polls. A total of 28 kiosks have been placed across the city.

According to the Downtown Detroit Partnership, the goal is to support visitors unfamiliar with the city, encourage “park-once” trips to Detroit, enhance the streetscape, and promote access to area businesses.

“Informational kiosks like these are becoming an invaluable tool across many of our neighbourhood commercial corridors that are seeing an influx of new shops, restaurants and other services,” Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement.

“They also are a convenient entry point for residents to access a whole range of free education, training and jobs programmes available for Detroiters.”