Spring
is here, seriously folks. The thermometer is finally starting to creep
over 40 — maybe even 50 on a good day— on a regular basis.
And that means Detroiters are more than ready for waterside walks, boat shows, bike treks and carousel rides.
Rewind to last fall and you'll recall that the new Detroit
RiverWalk
is more than 75 percent complete, with the 2 1/2 miles stretching from
Joe Louis Arena to Gabriel Richard Park already a favorite hangout. (
Click here for the Riverfront Conservancy's official map.)
This
year a few brick-and-mortar projects will get off the ground to move it
a little closer to completion, plus expanded programming and services
will draw more visitors.
Stuff to watch
• Tricentennial State Park:
Michigan's first urban state park is already a harbor complete, and
phase II construction is set to break ground this summer. Lowland Park
will connect to the RiverWalk at Atwater Street and feature a
demonstration wetland that collects and cleanses stormwater, then feeds
into the Detroit River. RiverWalkers, runners, bikers, loiterers and
the rest will get an up-close view of the operation from the path,
which will sandwich the wetland from the north and south. The State
Department of Parks and Recreation is currently working out agreements
with adjacent landowners to collect their stormwater. Other not-to-miss
features include fishing nodes, historical interpretations, and native
Michigan limestone seating areas.
• Uniroyal Site Cleanup: It's a big, messy job that just recently got
extended,
but the good news is that it is slated to start this year. The even
better news is that once it's complete, 40-plus acres of riverfront
just off the Belle Isle Bridge will be ready for RiverWalk
construction. Bettis/Betters Development will be managing the clean-up
and is hatching plans for mixed-use development.
• Dequindre Cut: The
infamous railroad
right-of-way-turned-graf-gallery will
soon be ready for bikers and walkers. The DEGC plans to open the
Woodbridge
to Gratiot portion in early-mid July. They have finished
clearing the foliage and
replacing a surprise sewer line (the joys of urban redevelopment), and
will soon start reconstructing the fencing, salvaging any sections they
can. Phase II, Gratiot to Mack, is in the early planning stages. When
all's said and
done, you'll be
able to hop the below grade greenway from Tricentennial State Park and
travel all the way up to Eastern Market for fresh produce — all with
camera surveillance, DRFC-supplied security, and zero environmental
impac
t.
• Port Authority Dock and Terminal: By July,
the Port Authority is planning to begin construction of a new dock and terminal
that will allow for larger cruise ships to dock in Detroit. Currently
the big ol' boys of the Great Lakes Cruise Line can't pull in like they
can on Windsor's side of the river, so this project will likely
translate to a nice little boost for Detroit travel and tourism.
• Watermark: Development of the Bing Group's Watermark property is moving along. Models are open, and they are taking reservations.
Take a look inside on Model D TV. • Parking at Gabriel Richard Park:
At the far east end of the RiverWalk, Booken Plaza's quiet fishing
nodes, meditative labyrinth and peaceful pathways summon a state of
relaxation from even the most high-strung visitors. Soon it will be
easier to tap into this contemplative aura. The Riverfront
Conservancy is working with the city of Detroit to develop a parking
structure near the Gabriel Richard Park RiverWalk entrance.
• West RiverFront:
While completion of the East RiverFront is the Riverfront Conservancy's
primary focus, it is working to secure funding and land for
the portion of RiverWalk that will extend to the Ambassador Bridge.
In November, the DRFC purchased 26 acres of land formerly occupied by
the Free Press building, and it will move forward with visioning
throughout 2008.
Stuff to do This
year the Riverfront Conservancy is launching new RiverWalk activities
that will spice up languid summer days and muggy nights. Don't worry:
River Days, the fireworks —they're coming back. But this year there
will be even more to do.
• River Days and 50th Annual Target Fireworks: The RiverWalk's signature event will return with a new name,
GM River Days. If you missed it and the 700,000+ people who packed the RiverWalk last year, you'd better be camped outside the
Ren Cen
this time around. The four-day festival starts June 20 and ends with a
bang on the 23rd with the 50th Annual Target Fireworks. Like last year,
there will be live music, interactive games, carnival elements and the
Parade of Lights boat show on the Detroit River. The Riverfront
Conservancy will announce details in a week or two. Bring the kiddies.
• Concessions and bikes:
This summer the RiverWalk's recreational and culinary options will be
significantly expanded with the opening of bike rentals at the
Wheelhouse (
see this week's Development News)
and concessions at Rivard Plaza. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be
available, so you'll easily be able to while away entire summer days
cruising the boardwalk, relaxing at Gabriel Richard Park's
contemplative surroundings, and watching busy execs steal a minute of
sunshine outside the Ren Cen.
•
Rockin' on the Riverfront:
The free concerts will return every Friday (except July 4) to the GM
Plaza behind the Renaissance Center starting June 27 and running until
August 22. The 2008 line-up will be announced next week, and look for
more details at
www.GMrencen.com. Check next week's issue of Model D for more, too.
• Red Bull Air Race:
On May 31, a new event is coming to town, and it'll bring some
international attention with it. Planes will race above the Detroit
River and whiz between inflatable, floating pylons. The event is part
of a series of races that have visited cities all over the world, from
Abu Dhabi to London to Perth. You can learn more at the Red Bull Air
Race web site,
redbullairrace.com.• Community engagement:
The Riverfront Conservancy promises many other family- and pet-friendly
events for 2008 and will announce its full program line-up soon. Also
in store are new opportunities for community involvement, possibility
including a public committee that addresses ways to enhance the
RiverWalk experience. "Representing history is a critical priority for
us," says Riverfront Conservancy President & CEO Faye Nelson. "We
hope to put together a committee reflective of the neighborhood to
discuss how we can do that." Walk on, Detroit.
For more on the RiverWalk, go to
www.detroitriverfront.org.
Sharon Carney is a local freelance writer. This is her first story for Model D.