May 29, 2026 Harlan Electric Builds Infrastructure, Connections, and Pride in Detroit
Harlan Electric builds stronger connections and pride within Detroit
Harlan Electric Company (Harlan Electric) was contracted to install new lighting in four Detroit parks by the Detroit Economic Growth Association (DEGA). Their first time working for this customer, Harlan Electric built a trusted relationship throughout the project and provided a new resource for the city.
Not only was Harlan Electric’s work on the Detroit Park Lighting Project an exemplary display of electrical construction work, but it was also deeply rooted in the local community, with many team members having personal connections to the parks they were improving.
One crew member lives just two blocks away from a park and often brings his children there. Another frequents one of the parks with his daughter. The project manager also shared this connection, having grown up in the city. These personal ties instilled a sense of pride and responsibility in the team’s work, knowing it would directly benefit their neighborhoods and loved ones, and this was apparent in the many ways Harlan Electric went above-and-beyond throughout the project.
The community’s excitement was evident, with residents often approaching the team to ask questions about the work and when the lights would be operational. Some even shared recommendations for other parks that could benefit from similar improvements. These suggestions were taken back to the client, fostering a collaborative spirit and ensuring residents’ voices were heard.
As one Harlan Electric project manager put it, “These lights are really like the cherry on top of the cake the city’s been baking for those communities.”
This unique dynamic not only strengthened Harlan Electric’s commitment to delivering high-quality results but also underscored the significance of their streetlighting work in creating safer, more vibrant spaces for Detroit families. By involving local workers and maintaining open communication with the community, Harlan Electric exemplified how infrastructure projects can go beyond construction to build stronger connections and pride within the city.
The Detroit Park Lighting Project initially involved installing 45 new streetlights and associated infrastructure across Patton Park, Balduck Park, Palmer Park, and Butzel Park – but the project was later expanded to nearly 70 lights due to the customer’s satisfaction with Harlan Electric’s work. At Palmer Park, the scope included lighting installations for the pickleball and tennis courts, while the remaining parks focused on walkway streetlights, posts, foundations, and ancillary work. Additionally, several sections of Balduck Park were extended, involving both the north and south sides.
Strategic planning leads to safer, more efficient execution
Harlan Electric approached the project with a safety-conscious, phased, and efficient strategy. The work began with the extensive, underground construction [trenching and boring, installing conduit and wiring, constructing foundations and connecting to a control house or power feed] being completed for each park individually before moving on to the next. By focusing on one park at a time, the team minimized potential safety hazards, such as exposed 6-inch foundations, which could easily be overlooked by park visitors. This method ensured the parks remained as safe and accessible as possible during construction.
Once the underground infrastructure was in place, crews pulled wire into each hand hole. After the wiring was complete, they installed the light poles and fixtures. This step-by-step approach, focusing on one step at a time across each park, improved coordination and reduced the risk of errors.
All the work needed to be done safely and with minimal disruption to the parks’ grounds, a challenge that Harlan Electric met with innovative solutions.
The crews recognized an opportunity to work safer and more efficiently and implemented the idea of pre-assembling the lighting structures before installation. By assembling the components on the ground, they avoided the need for additional steps that would have significantly increased time and effort.
Once DEGA observed Harlan Electric’s ability to provide high-quality work efficiently and on schedule, without burdening them with significant change orders, they chose to reallocate funds for projects initially planned for the following year. With Harlan Electric already mobilized and delivering great results, DEGA expanded the scope from 45 streetlights to nearly 70.
Remaining on schedule despite underground obstacles
Providing park streetlighting improvements in a city as old as Detroit presented challenges, including unpredictable underground conditions such as house foundations and unmarked utilities or water. Doing the work for a new customer meant they would need to establish trust and effective communication during the project.
While Michigan’s utility information center (MISS DIG) provides accurate data for utilities within established rights-of-way, parks like Patton Park posed unique challenges. Over the decades, the park had expanded to include former residential lots that were abandoned, demolished, and eventually incorporated into the park. This history made underground conditions unpredictable, as many original utility records had been lost over time.
Harlan Electric encountered remnants of old house foundations and uncharted utility and water lines. Situations like these required adaptability and problem-solving to navigate the unexpected and keep the project on schedule.
When potential delays came up, Harlan Electric pivoted plans to remain on schedule for the multi-phase project. They shifted work to other locations instead of demobilizing while obstructions were cleared.
Harlan Electric effectively navigated these obstacles through meticulous documentation and proactive communication, both internally and with DEGA. It also led to assessing and planning how to respond if similar challenges arose at other parks.
By addressing these issues internally and documenting them thoroughly, they minimized the need to escalate every obstacle to the customer while remaining transparent.
A trustworthy partner for a new client
Working for a new customer required trust building. Harlan Electric’s project leadership team maintained timely communication with DEGA, keeping them informed about unforeseen obstacles and their mitigation efforts. Rather than framing these updates as problems requiring immediate action, they would bring the customer a solution and provide assurance that the issues were documented and under control. This approach allowed Harlan Electric to retain the customer’s confidence while resolving challenges efficiently and independently.
DEGA brought expertise in land management but relied heavily on Harlan Electric for guidance on the electrical aspects of the project. Harlan Electric explained complex issues and solutions in straightforward terms and took the initiative to provide weekly progress reports with pictures to DEGA. Their ability to clear the fog on technical questions made DEGA feel informed and comfortable, even when navigating unfamiliar territory.
Taking care to mind the details
Maintaining the appearance of the parks added extra steps, but the Harlan Electric team, many of whom are Detroit natives, went above and beyond. With attention to detail and commitment to the area’s upkeep, the crew successfully conducted their work without damaging the land they were working on. Harlan Electric emphasized the importance of park aesthetics and demonstrated acute attention to detail to meet the city’s high standards.
Harlan Electric selected equipment to minimize impact on the terrain. They recognized that certain standard equipment was unsuitable for the park environment. To mitigate this, the team rented specialized equipment including a backyard machine. This alternative allowed them to set poles effectively without relying on larger, heavier machinery which could have caused unnecessary wear or damage to the park.
Harlan Electric’s commitment to aesthetics extended into restoration. The team ensured the grass restoration process was thorough and made sure to leave no remnants of construction. The team even restored areas of the park that were not part of their construction. For instance, there were occasions where ruts or damage to grass had been created by members of the public. Recognizing the importance of these spaces, Harlan Electric stepped in to fix the damage, even though it wasn’t in their scope.
By taking care of the issue as a favor, Harlan Electric demonstrated their commitment to the project’s success and to the community’s enjoyment of the parks. Their willingness to address small but meaningful issues was a testament to their dedication to both quality and client satisfaction.
Exceeding Inspection Expectations
Harlan Electric exceeded Detroit’s stringent inspection standards, even when they imposed new requirements due to heavy rainfall which had not been anticipated at the outset.
Three weeks into the project, unusually heavy rain prompted city inspectors to require securely tying down all conduit installations to prevent movement due to flooding or frost heaves. This required re-engineering the project to include banding conduit and staking it with wooden brackets.
Harlan Electric also exceeded requirements in the installation of hand holes at each pole location. Because these in-ground access ports – which house conduit and wiring – are vulnerable to shifting over time, Harlan Electric not only staked the conduits but engineered brackets to secure them which was not a universal requirement.
Harlan Electric’s accountability, expertise, and adaptability allowed them to successfully overcome these challenges and deliver a new and exciting resource to the parks of Detroit.