TheDetroit International Riverfront is atourist attraction and landmark ofDetroit, Michigan, extending from theAmbassador Bridge in the west toBelle Isle in the east, for a total of 5.5 miles (8.8 kilometers) along theDetroit River. The International Riverfront encompasses a cruise ship passenger terminal and dock, a marina, a multitude of parks, restaurants, retail shops,skyscrapers, and high rise residential areas along withHuntington Place. The Marriott at theRenaissance Center and theRobert's Riverwalk Hotel are also situated along the International Riverfront.
Private companies and foundations together with the city, state, and federal government have contributed several hundred million dollars toward the riverfront development. Key public spaces in the International Riverfront, such as the RiverWalk,Dequindre Cut Greenway and Trail,William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, and a cruise ship passenger terminal and dock atHart Plaza complement thearchitecture of the area.[1] The area provides a venue for a variety of annual events and festivals including theDetroit Electronic Music Festival, Detroit Free Press International Marathon, theDetroit International Jazz Festival,Motor City Pride, theNorth 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 byUSA Today readers.[2] It was selected a second time as the best riverwalk in the U.S. in 2022.[3]
In 1981, theCity of Detroit purchased the site fromUniroyal for $5 million and then spent another $3.6 million to demolish structures and clear the site.[4]
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, incorporated as a501(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.[5]
The area contains theDetroit River International Wildlife Refuge which is the only internationalwildlife preserve inNorth America, uniquely located in the heart of a major metropolitan area. The Refuge includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and waterfront lands along 48 miles (77 km) of theDetroit River andWestern Lake Erie shoreline.
Belle Isle Park is a 982 acres (397 ha; 1.534 sq mi) islandstate park in theDetroit River managed by theState of Michigan. Until November 12, 2013, it was a city-operated park operated by the City of Detroit Recreation Department. It connects to the city by theMacArthur Bridge. It is home to theAnna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (1904), the oldest conservatory in the United States, theDetroit Yacht Club, theDetroit Boat Club, theDossin Great Lakes Museum, aCoast Guard post, and a municipalgolf 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 | |
 | |
| Type | Municipal |
| Location | 2600 Atwater St.,Detroit |
| Coordinates | 42°20′1.89″N83°1′17.14″W / 42.3338583°N 83.0214278°W /42.3338583; -83.0214278 |
TheAretha Franklin Amphitheater, formerly known asChene Park, is located on the near east side ofDetroit, at the foot of Chene Street, along the banks of theDetroit River. Located just east ofWilliam G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, it contains a 6,000-seatamphitheater where concerts are regularly scheduled every summer.Jazz, ClassicSoul andRhythm and Blues acts are the staples of the season. Thepark also includes park trails, the Chene Park Fountain, and the Lake Lounge bar.The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy has connected the park to theRenaissance 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.[6] On September 4, 2018, Detroit City Council unanimously voted to rename Chene Park the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater afterthe famous singer who died on August 16, 2018. The change took place before the 2019 season.[7][8]
Dequindre Cut Greenway is a non-motorized trail extending from theDetroit River northward, with the future potential to connect to the Ferndale-Birmingham greenway inOakland County. The mile (1.6 km) long trail primarily connects theLafayette Park neighborhood andEastern Market to the Riverwalk. Thegreenway 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 atGratiot 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 qualitygraffiti 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]
TheRenaissance Center, nicknamed theRenCen, is a group of seven interconnectedskyscrapers inDetroit,Michigan, and the tallest building in Michigan since 1977. Located on the Detroit International Riverfront, the entire Renaissance Center complex is owned byGeneral Motors. The central tower is occupied by theDetroitMarriott at the Renaissance Center, the tallest all-hotel skyscraper in theWestern 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,General Motors completed a $500 million renovation of the Renaissance Center for its world headquarters which it had purchased in 1996.Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Gensler, theSmith 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.[9]
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.
Philip A. Hart Plaza indowntown Detroit, is acity plaza along theDetroit River. It is located more or less on the site at whichAntoine de la Mothe Cadillac landed in 1701 when he foundedFort Pontchartrain du Détroit, the settlement that became Detroit. In 2011, the Detroit-Wayne CountyPort Authority opened its newcruise ship passenger terminal and dock at Hart Plaza, adjacent to the Renaissance Center, which receives major cruise ships such as theMS Columbus and the Yorktown.[10]
The 14-acre (5.7 ha) plaza, which is named for the late U.S. SenatorPhilip Hart, opened in 1975 and has a capacity for about 40,000 people.[11] At the center of the plaza is theHorace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain, designed byIsamu Noguchi and Walter Budd in 1978.[12]
The historicStrohRiver Place complex is a mixed-use residential development adjacent to theRoberts Riverwalk Hotel and Residence, the redeveloped site of theParke-Davis research laboratory, aNational Historic Landmark located along the east riverfront promenade. The historicDry Dock Complex is an additional redeveloped site along the east riverfront which includes residential units and retail.
| River Walk | |
|---|---|
 GM Plaza and Promenade on the riverfront at theRenaissance Center | |
| Location | Detroit |
| Established | 2007; 18 years ago (2007) |
| Designation | Municipal |
| Trail map | |
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The Detroit International Riverfront includes a5+1⁄2-mile (8.8 km) promenade called the River Walk which is to extend from theAmbassador Bridge toBelle Isle. The path is located directly on the river, sometimes bridging it. The path is 62 feet (18+3⁄4 m) wide in most places, with separate lanes for pedestrian and wheeled (such asbicycles orinline 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 theHuntington Place convention and exhibit facility to theBelle Isle State Park bridge and includes theRenaissance Center, GM Plaza and Promenade,William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor,StrohRiver Place, Chene Park, Mt Elliott Park andGabriel Richard Park. The river walk is designed to supplement new retail and residential development, and includes the newly renovated historicAlden Park Towers. ArchitectEric 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-riseRiverfront Towers. The west riverfront promenade will eventually connect toRiver Rouge in the southwest side.[1]
William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor (formerlyTri-Centennial State Park and Harbor) is astate park inMichigan, and one of only two state parks located within an urban area. The park consist of the former city-owned St. Aubin Park and Marina. Located just east of downtownDetroit in the Near-East Riverfront, it covers 31 acres (13 ha) on theDetroit River, and includes a 52-slip harbor of refuge. A 63-foot (19 m) conical brick light tower marks the harbor entrance. The park's first phase opened in 2003, included refurbishing of the marina and construction of lighthouse. Construction on the second phase, adjacent to Rivard Plaza, to expand the park started in summer 2008 and was completed in summer 2009. In fall 2009, the state park was renamed in honor of former MichiganGovernorWilliam G. Milliken.
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 theDetroit-Windsor International Freedom Festival fireworks.Detroit andWindsor jointly celebrate the multi-day festival the last week of June which draws about 3.5 million visitors during the week in order to commemorate each country's respectiveNational holiday - (US Independence Day on July 4 andCanada 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 largestfireworks displays,[13] sponsored byTarget. 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.
TheDetroit 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 theDetroit 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 theRed Bull Air Race World Championship on the International Riverfront.
42°19′39″N83°02′37″W / 42.32750°N 83.04361°W /42.32750; -83.04361
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| Major beaches | ||
| Trails 5 to 36 miles (8 to 58 km) | ||
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