Issue 21 / Q3 / 2023
A MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP
D
ear Friends and Supporters,
It’s been an incredible summer as we continue to celebrate 20 years of transforming the Detroit Riverfront with our community. Moving into our third decade, we haven’t slowed down a bit. I’ve been with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy since the very beginning, and still, each new public space we open and each milestone we pass fills me with the same pride and excitement I felt when we poured our first ton of concrete back in 2004. One of those moments was this spring at the grand opening of our newest public space, the Southwest Greenway. This new connection links the Ford Mobility Campus and the Corktown, Mexicantown and Southwest Detroit neighborhoods with the future Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park. That same day we also proudly announced more than $70 million in new funding for the Unified Greenway Campaign. The City of Detroit, Joe Louis Greenway Partnership and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy are working to raise funds to complete the transformation of the riverfront, build the 27-mile Joe Louis Greenway and create an endowment to support the maintenance and operation of these spaces for future generations. We’ll meet another game changing milestone this fall when we complete our 3.5-mile vision for the East Riverfront and open the
Uniroyal Promenade. This section of the Riverwalk will connect Gabriel Richard Park, previously isolated from the rest of the Riverwalk, to Mt. Elliott Park and also provide a pathway to the bridge to Belle Isle. Finally, Detroiters will be able to travel from Belle Isle all the way past Hart Plaza without ever having to leave the Riverwalk. With construction at Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park well underway and these two major connections complete this year, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy continues to deliver on the promises we made 20 years ago to create world-class community spaces in Detroit that truly are for everybody. As always, we hope you join in the celebration with us and take part in two of our most popular events: Soirée on the Greenway and the Detroit Harvest Fest & Food Truck Rally. Check out the details inside this newsletter about this incredible weekend of fall fun. In my two decades at the Conservancy, I’ve seen the transformation of the Detroit Riverfront firsthand every step of the way. As we continue to make tremendous progress toward completing our vision, we know we couldn’t do it without your support. I hope you have a wonderful fall, and I look forward to seeing you along the Detroit Riverfront soon.
Will Smith Chief Financial Officer