Detroit Today: How can Detroit’s riverfront revitalize Southeast Michigan?

As Michigan cities like Detroit deal with stagnating population, one area of growth over the past two decades is occurring along the city’s riverfront.

The waterfront area expanded this summer by connecting to Michigan Central through the Southwest Greenway. This follows an earlier announcement by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy confirming a collaborative effort with regional park system Huron-Clinton Metroparks to open the city’s first Metropark in 2024.

But could extensive development in the area be a key to revitalizing Metro Detroit?

Detroit Riverfront Conservancy President and CEO Mark Wallace joined Detroit Today to discuss the most recent projects occurring along the Detroit River.

Listen: How cities can use waterfronts for public good

Guests

Stefan Gruber is the Director of the Remaking Cities Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.

Gruber says that there are many cities nationwide that are reclaiming their riverfronts as maintained community spaces, leading to a better social, economic and eco-friendly environment.

“As Pittsburgh and Detroit have de-industrialized, there is this sort of opportunity to redefine their relationship to the water,” Gruber states.

Mark Wallace is the president and CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. He says the developments we see at the riverfront are 20 years in the making.

“The idea of connecting [Detroit’s] assets — really putting together a coalition of the willing who could make that happen — really started in 2003,” says Wallace. “We’ve seen $2 billion invested since.”

Amy McMillan is the director of Huron-Clinton Metroparks. McMillan mentioned that the Metroparks have been noticeably absent from the city of Detroit, which they are excited to change with the new water garden.

“Over the years there has been a lot of discussion on our boards — for decades really — about how we can have a better presence in the city and how we can best serve residents,” says McMillan.