Auburn Hills Downtown Public Square Wins 2025 "Best Public Space Project" Award

The City of Auburn Hills is proud to announce that its Downtown Public Square has been awarded the 2025 Best Public Space Project by the Michigan Downtown Association (MDA). This prestigious recognition celebrates exceptional placemaking and design excellence in creating vibrant, community-centered public spaces across Michigan.

Opened in the Summer of 2025, the Auburn Hills Downtown Public Square has quickly become a welcoming, multi-purpose gathering space for residents, visitors, and local businesses. The project transformed an underutilized municipal parking lot into a vibrant, multi-functional public square. Designed with flexibility in mind, the public square will accommodate year-round programming.

The Michigan Downtown Association’s annual awards program celebrates downtown projects and initiatives that contribute to the economic vitality, visual appeal, and sense of place in Michigan’s communities. The Best Public Space Project category highlights excellence in the design and use of outdoor spaces that promote social interaction and community engagement.

The MDA Awards were presented during the organization’s 2025 Annual Conference, held in Rochester, MI, on November 6, 2025.

Stephanie Carroll, Economic Development Manager