DTE Energy opens Beacon Park in downtown Detroit

DTE Energy kicked off the weekend a day early with the grand opening of Beacon Park in downtown Detroit.

Hundreds of people gathered for the big celebration.

"Today an acre and a half park, everything from a sit-down restaurant to food trucks, it'll be open to everybody -- 600 different events reaching out to all segments of our community -- the transformation of this space is nothing short of remarkable," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

The new park is at Grand River and Cass next to DTE Energy headquarters downtown near the MGM Casino.

"(It will) allow people to throw a football, play soccer, attend a conference or a concert, maybe tailgate before a ball game, or just bask in the sun," said DTE Chairman and CEO Gerry Anderson

Thursday's grand opening of Beacon Park kicked off four days of special events that include live music, giant illuminated see saws and an open air market featuring more than 25 vendors.

"For years I drove down here and it was a fence with barbed wire, and now it's a beautiful park open to everybody. This is what's happening in the City of Detroit," Duggan said.

Through a grant from the DTE Energy Foundation, more than 600 events will be planned for Beacon Park in 2017.