Detroit International Riverfront

Coordinates: 42°19′39″N 83°02′37″W / 42.32750°N 83.04361°W / 42.32750; -83.04361
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Skyline of Detroit at night

The Detroit International Riverfront is a

Hart Plaza complement the architecture of the area.[1] The area provides a venue for a variety of annual events and festivals including the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, Detroit Free Press International Marathon, the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Motor City Pride, the North American International Auto Show, River Days and Detroit China Festival. In February 2021, the Detroit International Riverfront was voted best riverwalk in the United States by USA Today readers.[2] It was selected a second time as the best riverwalk in the U.S. in 2022. [3]

History

Panorama of the Detroit International Riverfront

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, incorporated as a

501(c)(3) organization, helped raise funds for the International Riverfront project.[1] Developers planned the initial east riverfront promenade investment at $559 million, which included contributions of $135 million from GM and $50 million from the Kresge foundation.[4]

Features

The area contains the

Western Lake Erie
shoreline.

James Scott Fountain and Belle Isle Casino
James Scott Fountain and Belle Isle Casino

Belle Isle Park

Main article:
Belle Isle Park (Michigan)

Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (1904), the oldest conservatory in the United States, the Detroit Yacht Club, the Detroit Boat Club, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a Coast Guard post, and a municipal golf
course. The park contains a Nature Center where visitors are able to traverse wooded trails and view wildlife natural habitats. The island includes a half-mile (800 m) swimming beach.

Aretha Franklin Amphitheater

Aretha Franklin Amphitheater
Aretha Franklin Amphitheater
Map
TypeMunicipal
Location2600 Atwater St., Detroit
Coordinates42°20′1.89″N 83°1′17.14″W / 42.3338583°N 83.0214278°W / 42.3338583; -83.0214278

The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, formerly known as Chene Park, is located on the near east side of

Rhythm and Blues acts are the staples of the season. The park
also includes park trails, the Chene Park Fountain, and the Lake Lounge bar. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy has connected the park to the Renaissance Center along a riverside promenade.

The park was originally named for Charles Chene, a French immigrant who owned a strip of land along the shores of the Detroit River that extended into what is now just east of downtown.[5] On September 4, 2018, Detroit City Council unanimously voted to rename Chene Park the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater after the famous singer who died on August 16, 2018. The change took place before the 2019 season.[6][7]

Dequindre Cut Greenway looking north

Dequindre Cut Greenway

Main article: Dequindre Cut

Dequindre Cut Greenway is a non-motorized trail extending from the

Eastern Market to the Riverwalk. The greenway utilizes half of the corridor, with a 20-foot (6.1 m) wide paved path with separate lanes for biking and walking.[1]

Construction of phase I of the Dequindre Cut Greenway, extending from the River one mile (1.6 km) north to Gratiot Avenue, is complete. Funded by MDOT's Transportation Enhancement Program and the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, this portion of the greenway sets the template for future phases and includes a 20-foot (6.1 m) bituminous path; access ramps for bicyclists, pedestrians and emergency vehicles; landscaping; lighting; signage and security cameras. The first phase of the trail officially opened May 14, 2009 with an opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Woodbridge Street entrance of the greenway between Orleans Street and St. Aubin Street.

The Dequindre Cut Greenway phase II North project begins at the northern terminus of the phase I at

Gratiot Avenue
and continues for over one-half mile to Mack Avenue. The strategic plan for phase II provides a design approach and project budget that builds on the lessons learned in phase I construction.

The Dequindre Cut is noted for the high quality graffiti covering the walls of the corridor. The Riverfront Conservancy which operates the greenway will permit current and future painted art work to remain as long as it is not deemed offensive. The trail is one of the city's few public art parks and is a major attraction for urban photographers.[1]

Hart Plaza

GM Plaza and Promenade

Main article: Renaissance Center

The Renaissance Center, nicknamed the RenCen, is a group of seven interconnected skyscrapers in Detroit, Michigan, and the tallest building in Michigan since 1977. Located on the Detroit International Riverfront, the entire Renaissance Center complex is owned by General Motors. The central tower is occupied by the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, the tallest all-hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere with the largest rooftop restaurant, called Coach Insignia. The complex contains many restaurants, a variety of shops, and the vehicle display known as GM World. GM donated its portion of the plaza and promenade to the Riverfront Conservancy upon completion. A cruise-ship passenger terminal stands on Hart Plaza, adjacent to the Renaissance Center. In 2003,

Smith Group, and Ghafari Associates were among the architects for the renovation. The majority of the construction operations were led by Turner Construction Company. The renovation included the addition of a five-story Wintergarden which provides access to the Detroit International Riverfront.[8]

Work continued in and around the complex until 2005. The Renaissance Center totals 5.5 million square feet (511,000 m2), making it one of the world's largest office complexes.

Tall ships occasionally dock in Detroit.

Hart Plaza and the Dock of Detroit

Main article: Philip A. Hart Plaza

MS Columbus and the Yorktown.[9]

The 14-acre (5.7 ha) plaza, which is named for the late U.S. Senator

Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain, designed by Isamu Noguchi and Walter Budd in 1978.[11]

River Place

Main article:
River Place (Detroit, Michigan)

The historic

River Place complex is a mixed-use residential development adjacent to the Roberts Riverwalk Hotel and Residence, the redeveloped site of the Parke-Davis research laboratory, a National Historic Landmark located along the east riverfront promenade. The historic Dry Dock Complex
is an additional redeveloped site along the east riverfront which includes residential units and retail.


River Walk

River Walk
GM Plaza and Promenade on the riverfront at the Renaissance Center
LocationDetroit
Established2007; 17 years ago (2007)
DesignationMunicipal
Trail map
Map

The Detroit International Riverfront includes a 5+1⁄2-mile (8.8 km) promenade called the River Walk which is to extend from the

inline skate) traffic. Pavilions, fishing piers and benches are located at intervals along the path.[1]

The east riverfront promenade connects an area known as Rivertown. It extends along the east riverfront area from the

River Place, Chene Park, Mt Elliott Park and Gabriel Richard Park. The river walk is designed to supplement new retail and residential development, and includes the newly renovated historic Alden Park Towers. Architect Eric J. Hill aided in its design.[1]

The first 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of continuous riverfront promenade and two of the four planned pavilions opened to the public on June 6, 2007. Rivard Plaza located at the foot of Rivard Street features a covered seating, a carousel, concessions and bike rentals. Richard Plaza located in Gabriel Richard Park features covered seating, concessions and a butterfly garden. The River Walk is continuous from Joe Louis Arena to Milliken State Park with unfinished sections between the state park and River Place. From River Place the River Walk is then continuous through Mt Elliott Park to the former site of the Uniroyal Tire factory west of Belle Isle. The west riverfront promenade development is not expected to be completed before 2022. The west riverfront includes the high-rise

Riverfront Towers. The west riverfront promenade will eventually connect to River Rouge in the southwest side.[1]

View of the state park from across the Detroit River
View of the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor from across the Detroit River

William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor

Main article: William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor

William G. Milliken
.

Riverfront activities

Freedom festival's fireworks

Detroit River Days, a five-day festival on the International Riverfront, marked the 2007 opening of the riverfront promenade along the east river leading up to the

National holiday - (US Independence Day on July 4 and Canada Day
on July 1). The festival began in 1959. It is organized by the Parade Company, a well sponsored not-for-profit organization governed by the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation.

Traditionally, several days of events were planned, ending with one of the world's largest fireworks displays,[12] sponsored by Target. In prior years, the fireworks display has been billed as the world's largest. On the Windsor side, there is a midway consisting of carnival rides and concessions during the festival. The Midway operates as stand-alone attraction at the end of June, beginning of July.

The Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF) is an electronic dance music showcase held in Hart Plaza each Memorial Day weekend since 2000. In subsequent years, the similarly themed festivals Movement (2003–2004), Fuse-In (2005) and currently, Movement: Detroit's Electronic Music Festival (2006–present) continue the DEMF's traditions, with each name change reflecting shifts in festival management. All of these festivals featured performances by musicians and DJs, and emphasized the progressive qualities of the culture surrounding electronic music.

The International Riverfront is host to part of the Detroit International Jazz Festival held in Hart Plaza each Labor Day weekend. Hart Plaza is also the traditional location of rallies to celebrate championships won by Detroit's major sports teams. Both Detroit and Windsor have hosted the Red Bull Air Race World Championship on the International Riverfront.

Photo gallery

  • Riverfront circa 1901
    Riverfront circa 1901
  • View from Caesars Windsor casino resort overlooking Detroit
    View from Caesars Windsor casino resort overlooking Detroit
  • Looking upriver to Belle Isle State Park
    Looking upriver to Belle Isle State Park
  • Rivard Plaza includes a Merry-Go-Round.
    Rivard Plaza includes a Merry-Go-Round.
  • Dry Dock Complex historic redevelopment
    Dry Dock Complex historic redevelopment
  • Skyline along the International Riverfront
    Skyline along the International Riverfront
  • Renaissance Center
    Renaissance Center
  • Detroit's skyline as seen from Belle Isle
    Detroit's skyline as seen from Belle Isle

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Detroit Riverfront Conservancy". Detroitriverfront.org. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  2. ^ "Best Riverwalk Winners (2021) | USA TODAY 10Best". 10Best. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  3. ^ "Best Riverwalk Winners (2022) | USA TODAY 10Best". 10Best. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  4. ^ Detroit News Editorial (December 13, 2002). At Last, Sensible Dream for Detroit's Riverfront. Detroit News.
  5. ^ "Chene Park Amphitheatre". MusicWiki Detroit. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  6. ^ Ferretti, Christine (September 4, 2018). "Detroit council OKs renaming Chene Park after Aretha Franklin". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  7. ^ Riley, Rochelle (September 4, 2018). "Aretha Franklin's name on Chane Park Ok'd by city council". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  8. ^ AIA Detroit Urban Priorities Committee, (1-10-2006). Top 10 Detroit Interiors, Model D Media.
  9. ^ Detroit Wayne County Port Authority Breaks Ground on $11.25 Million Public Dock and Terminal. (June 21, 2004). PRNewswire. Retrieved on January 20, 2008.
  10. ^ "Hart Plaza | Detroit Historical Society". detroithistorical.org. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  11. ^ "Hart Plaza | Detroit Riverfront Conservancy". detroitriverfront.org. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  12. ^ Mink, Randy, and Karen Mink (July 2001). Detroit Turns 300 - Detroit 300 Festival. Travel America, World Publishing Co., Gale Group.

References and further reading

External links

42°19′39″N 83°02′37″W / 42.32750°N 83.04361°W / 42.32750; -83.04361

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