DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY INC

AS A REGIONAL LANDMARK, A PUBLIC ASSET FOR DETROIT, AND AMERICA'S BEST RIVERWALK, ACCORDING TO USA TODAY, THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT AND OUR CONNECTED GREENWAYS PLAY A SPECIAL ROLE IN THE LIVES OF DETROITERS AND A CATALYTIC ROLE IN THE CONTINUED TRANSFORMATION OF DETROIT'S INTERNATIONAL WATERFRONT. A COMMUNITY ADVISORY TEAM OF 21 DETROITERS REFLECTING DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIES, DEMOGRAPHICS, AND USER TYPES WAS ASSEMBLED AND TRAVELED TO NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, AND CHICAGO TO LEARN ABOUT OTHER LANDMARK WATERFRONT PARKS AND TO INFORM PLANS FOR THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE RALPH C. WILSON, JR. CENTENNIAL PARK. IN TOTAL, MORE THAN 5,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN DEVELOPING THE VISION FOR THE PARK AND FUTURE PROGRAMMING. THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT WELCOMES MORE THAN THREE MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR AND HAS GENERATED SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDING. THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT HAS BEEN NAMED AMERICA'S BEST RIVERWALK BY USA TODAY IN 2021, 2022, AND 2023.CELEBRATING OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2023, THE CONSERVANCY WAS ESTABLISHED WITH A VISION AND FOUNDING PROMISE TO TRANSFORM DETROIT'S RIVERFRONT, THE FACE OF OUR CITY, INTO A BEAUTIFUL, EXCITING, SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, WORLD-CLASS GATHERING PLACE FOR ALL. TODAY, THE CONSERVANCY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR: - STEWARDSHIP AND MAINTENANCE - SECURITY AND SAFETY - REINVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT - PROGRAMMING AND EVENT ADMINISTRATION THE RIVERFRONT ENCOMPASSES 5 PARKS 3 GREENWAYS, AND MULTIPLE PLAZAS PROVIDING A DIVERSITY OF OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES FOR VISITORS OF ALL AGES AND NOW HOST PROGRAMS FOR MORE THAN 350,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR: - CULLEN PLAZA - DEQUINDRE CUT - GABRIEL RICHARD PARK & CHRISTOPHER STROH PLAZA - MAYOR DENNIS W. ARCHER GREENWAY - MT. ELLIOTT PARK - RALPH C. WILSON, JR. CENTENNIAL PARK - ROBERT C. VALADE PARK - SOUTHWEST GREENWAYONCE A NEGLECTED STRETCH OF INDUSTRIAL SITES AND SHUTTERED BUSINESSES, THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT IS NOW A SERIES OF CHERISHED PUBLIC SPACES WHERE ALL FEEL WELCOME. BEGINNING WITH A BEST-IN-CLASS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY HELD MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY MEETINGS BEFORE STARTING CONSTRUCTION ON THE RIVERWALK, AN UNPRECEDENTED APPROACH AT THE TIME. THE LESSONS FROM THIS PROCESS CONTINUE TO INFORM PROGRAMMING ON THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT AND PLANS FOR NEW SPACES.THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY BROKE GROUND ON THE RALPH C. WILSON, JR. CENTENNIAL PARK IN MAY, 2022 AND HAS FULFILLED OUR BRIDGE-TO-BRIDGE VISION SINCE COMPLETING CONSTRUCTION ON THE FINAL SEGMENT CONNECTING THE EAST RIVERFRONT TO RALPH WILSON PARK. THE NEW PARK OPENED IN 2025; IT FEATURES THE DELTA DENTAL PLAY GARDEN, AN EXPANSIVE LAWN FOR PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS, BASKETBALL COURTS IN THE SPORT HOUSE AND A LARGE WATER GARDEN.