Welcome to Oak Park!
We are the Oak Park Corridor Improvement Authority (OPCIA), established by the Oak Park City Council in 2015, to ensure our commercial corridors remain robust and vibrant. CIAs work like mini downtown boosters for commercial areas. We use redirected tax money to fund improvements like better streetscapes and public spaces, to support our local businesses, and plan events, making these areas more attractive and lively. We are the team that is dedicated to breathing new life into our commercial corridors. Whether you are a lifelong resident, a local business owner, or a visitor just discovering our community, this site is your guide to the ongoing evolution of our commercial districts.
What we do
Keep things looking sharp with new landscape projects, beautiful seasonal plantings, and banner decorations
We support our local district businesses by sharing grant information, hosting networking events, and offering training seminars
Fund infrastructure overhauls like the 11 Mile Water Tower Social District project
Host exciting events for our residents and to attract new visitors to the district
Where we do it
Our work spans a five-mile district along the 9 Mile, Coolidge, and 11 Mile corridors, supporting more than 260 local businesses and turning underutilized areas into dynamic community hubs.
Download our corridor-improvement-authority-district-map.pdf
Ten years of steady momentum is delivering tangible results:
Commercial vacancies have dropped
New storefronts are steadily opening
A diverse group of entrepreneurs is continually drawn to our rising visibility and affordability
To ensure our growth follows proven, community-focused strategies, we proudly maintain active partnerships as an affiliate member of Main Street America and Main Street Oakland County. The Oak Park Corridor Improvement Authority is already planning the next wave of streetscape upgrades, intersection improvements, and business-boosting initiatives to keep our city growing and thriving. Our goal is to make Oak Park one of metro Detroit’s most sustainable and exciting neighborhood commercial districts—a place where residents feel at home, and businesses have the foundational support they need to build their futures.
Our mission:
Through strategic initiatives, the Oak Park Corridor Improvement Authority fuels the growth and development of local businesses in our commercial corridors, strengthens connections within the diverse community, and contributes to the city’s beautification and vitality.
Our vision:
The City of Oak Park will lead the region as the most dynamic city in Metropolitan Detroit, serving as a destination as a vibrant, cutting-edge community. It will remain a special place where families choose to raise their children, and where all feel welcome. The business community will serve the needs of Oak Park residents, who are loyal to the unique stores and services available locally, providing a strong local economy.
The Oak Park Corridor Improvement Authority, using the Main Street America program guidelines, promotes the revitalization of our neighborhood commercial districts and corridors.
Our objective is to create attractive commercial areas that house a broad business mix, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, appealing architecture, and mixed-use developments.
The Oak Park Corridor Improvement Authority is also responsible for creating a positive image of the business district to attract customers and investors and rekindle community pride.
The City of Oak Park will lead the region as the most dynamic city in Metropolitan Detroit, serving as a cutting-edge community.