Riverside Park is being redeveloped with a plan to reopen
One of Councilman Cushingberry’s goals when he got hired by the people was to reopen
Riverside Park for sustainable public use.
The announcement of the plans by Mayor Duggan is a culmination of effort
with Alicia Bradford Director of the Department of Recreation and the Mayor’s
office.
The agreement between the City of Detroit and the Ambassador
Bridge Company is summarized as follows:
The Ambassador Bridge Company will give the City of Detroit
4.8 acers of prime water front property and $3 million dollars. Pending MDEQ
and Detroit City Council approval, the $3 million will be immediately invested
back into the park in our Phase 1 development plan starting fall 2015.
Starting fall 2015 the City will perform the following:
- Convert an adjacent 3.4 acre parcel into park
land.
- Build a New Baseball Diamond, Soccer field and multi-use
play areas.
- Build a New Riverfront Playscape
- Install new benches, picnic tables and shelter
- Improve Waterfront Promenade and Landscaping
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Future Plans for Riverside Park |
Subject to approval of State and Federal regulators, the
City of Detroit will give the bridge company title to 3 acres of undeveloped
park land. Upon receiving title to the property the Bridge Company will give
the City an additional $2 million dollars for the expansion of the park that
includes a 100ft river-walk on the waterfront. In addition to that, The Bridge Company will
demolish the warehouse that is on 5 acre property adjacent to the park and
grant development rights to the City of Detroit before the end of 2018.
Starting in 2018, the Phase II step includes the construction
of waterfront property into Fisherman’s Overlook that will contain additional sea wall improvements, sidewalks, benches and extended promenade.
Once the Ambassador Bridge Company get additional
approvals, the company intends to use the 3 acres to help them build a second
span of the Ambassador Bridge next to the old bridge creating jobs, and
spurring additional commerce and development in Detroit. Plans include restoring
foot and bike traffic on the old bridge and, adding light rail transportation
on the new one. The old bridge will be available for special events like
parties and gatherings. Special rules will apply so that people will not dance
in rhythm while they are standing on the span.
In addition to funding the expansion of Riverside Park, The
Bridge Company has agreed to install 1000 windows in the vacant Michigan
Central Train Station with an investment of more than $2 million dollars. While
there will always be a few who are against the project because of a personal
dislike for Mr. Maroun, the new publicly owned bridge should take care of the "Hate Maroun" crowd and, improve the Riverfront Park area at the same time. Given
the resounding rejection of Proposal 1 to raise the State Sales Tax to fix the
roads in May of 2015, alternative funding methods and business practices have to be considered
in the Plan B, C, and D options for paying for a publicly owned bridge.
Contact your elected leaders that includes, President Obama,
Senator Stabenow, Senator Peters, Gov. Snyder, Detroit City Council Members and the Mayor’s
Offices to voice your support to beautify our City of Detroit.