In The News

The Detroit River Days Festival presented by the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, returns June 21-23, 2013.

After a successful launch in 2012, the Conservancy's young professional affinity group, Riviere28, is putting the finishing touches on its calendar of events for this year. 

As the Detroit riverfront continues to become more popular each year as a community gathering place, the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy's operations and security teams remain committed to keeping it a clean and safe place for all people to visit and enjoy. 

The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy is fortunate to have a vibrant and active 44-plus member Board of Directors comprised of a diverse mix of business, community and public sector leaders from throughout Metro Detroit. 

Frigid temperatures and frequent snow falls didn't slow down construction on a completely transformed Mt. Elliott Park this winter.  In fact, the much-anticipated opening of the park remains right on schedule for a fall debut.

Now in its second full year, the Conservancy volunteer program continues to expand in both depth and scope. 

By this fall, a 20-acre parcel along the west riverfront will be safe, accessible and ready for residents, downtown workers and visitors alike to run its paths, take a leisurely stroll, play a game of catch along green expanses or curl up on a bench with a good book. 

The Conservancy will mark a major milestone in 2013 with a 10-year anniversary celebration that raises awareness of the organization, connects with new and existing key audiences in creative ways, provides opportunities for increased donations and celebrates a decade of successful public-private partnerships that are contributing to an ambitious riverfront transformation.

Collaborations between the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, its waterfront neighbors and several key organizations will help the waterfront come alive with another vibrant year of special events, activities and programming, including the return of popular events such as Detroit River Days, Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront, Shimmer on the River, Rockin' on the Riverfront and concerts at Chene Park. 

We are happy to report that the Conservancy staff hit the ground running in preparation for another engaging year along the Detroit riverfront.   This year is generating even more anticipation among us than usual as we make plans to celebrate our 10 year anniversary in 2013.  

Despite recent frigid temperatures and frequent snow falls, construction remains right on schedule for a fall debut of a completely transformed Mt. Elliott Park.

Construction launches, major announcements, special events and record numbers of visitors contributed to an exciting and memorable year along the Detroit riverfront in 2012.

The Conservancy and its riverfront neighbors are finalizing the details for a jam-packed year of special events, activities and programming for people of all ages in 2013.

The following are some highlights from the last quarter of 2012

Since the July announcement of the final phases of construction needed to finish the east riverfront project, crews have been busy working on a complete transformation of Mt. Elliott Park.

Beginning in January, watch for a redesigned E-newsletter from the Conservancy.

More than 24,000 runners took to the streets of Detroit and Windsor

Governor Rick Snyder and other dignitaries welcomed more than 100 guests on a crisp October morning at the Milliken State Park & Harbor to celebrate the launch of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources $12.8 million redevelopment of the Globe Building.

The announcement this summer of the Dequindre Cut Greenway's planned extension north to Mack Avenue

Staying connected to its audiences is just as important to the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy as providing a vibrant waterfront that is inviting, beautiful and engaging for all visitors to enjoy.

While the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy's primary focus remains completing the east riverfront project, plans are underway to provide the public with access to the west riverfront along the former Detroit Free Press property at 1801 West Jefferson.

The Conservancy is fortunate to have an incredibly active and diverse board to serve as the policy makers and visionaries of this organization. The support, counsel and guidance they provide is critical to the continued success of the Conservancy.

Each year, millions of people visit the Detroit Riverfront to attend a special event, take a stroll or spend time with family and friends. With a diverse and rich offering of special events, the Summer of 2012 will surely be remembered as one of the busiest to date.

More than 600 guests at this year's Shimmer on the River, the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy's annual fundraiser gala, experienced nature's elements - Earth, Water, Fire and Air - like never before during an evening that featured breathtaking décor, extraordinary entertainment and exquisite eats. 

The Conservancy’s popular public art program, which was launched in 2011, continues to expand and gain momentum while gaining fans along the waterfront. 

Frequent visitors to the riverfront may have noticed an increase in the number of young professionals enjoying themselves this summer. This increase could be directly linked to the outreach efforts of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy's new "Riviere28" group.

Employees from Quicken Loans used a combination of creative, out-of-the-box fundraising incentives and good old-fashioned hard work to raise more than $106,000-which was then doubled to $212,000 by Rock Ventures-for the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy in less than one month this summer. 

Early morning rain showers gave way to sunny skies as several hundred business, community and political leaders, including Senator Carl Levin, Governor Rick Snyder and Mayor Dave Bing, gathered for a July 23 media conference to announce details of the final phase of construction along the east Riverfront.

Thanks to $44 million in new funding, the Detroit RiverWalk finally will be able to complete the full 3.5-mile stretch between Hart Plaza and Belle Isle.

Mayor Dave Bing, Gov. Rick Snyder, and other leaders gathered along the Detroit River this morning to announce the latest steps to complete the Detroit RiverWalk.

A graffiti artist who has spent the last 29 years painting in Detroit returned to the area of a former abandoned railroad line this month for the first time in a decade with his paint cans.

The difference between then and now: He was invited this time.

This week MiWeek steps outside the studio and focuses on redevelopment of the Detroit riverfront. Featured guest: Faye Nelson, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

The event, which is sponsored by the Detroit Riverfront Conservatory and General Motors is meant to get Detroit area kids interested in reading while understanding the importance of education.

As a crowd streamed along the Detroit River on Sunday afternoon, Farooq Ayub dangled a bundle of keys for his daughter's delight.

See what people were saying while they spent their Sunday strolling along the Detroit River.

For the first time in half a century, Detroit is once again the home port for a cruise ship.

Protecting our shared environment is of fundamental importance to the Conservancy, as it is to our employees, and other stakeholders. To support this common goal, we have enacted the following green initiatives throughout our business operations.

"This DVD represents an important milestone for us --  it celebrates and shares what we have already achieved, and we will use that success to perpetuate and support the fantastic work that continues at the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy." - Sally Baker - Vice President of Development

Your Detroit riverfront is a year-round destination providing a host of options for you to come out and embrace winter and the outdoors. From Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing on the Dequindre Cut to our monthly Riverfront Canine Club walks; the riverfront is an ideal locale to discover the true beauty of winter.

The Conservancy's Security Command Center at Rivard Plaza recently received an extensive upgrade to its monitoring technology thanks to a grant from Wayne County Homeland Security.

In the spring of 2012, the Conservancy is preparing to launch the final construction phases to complete the development of the remaining parcels of the east riverfront necessary to connect the RiverWalk and its associated green spaces, plazas and parks.

The State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is moving forward as the anchor tenant in the historic Globe Building.

The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy is deeply indebted to our wonderful volunteers for the intrinsic value they bring by serving as riverfront goodwill ambassadors in the communities in which they live, work and play.

"This site will soon be iconic for all of the right reasons... I can tell you with confidence that once the site is made available to the Conservancy, our team will be ready and in place to immediately begin constructing this critical segment of RiverWalk." - Faye Alexander Nelson, President & CEO - Detroit Riverfront Conservancy

Many people have been drawn to the riverfront to enjoy a wide variety of programs organized by the Conservancy as well as our partner organizations. In the summer and fall of 2011, the Conservancy saw one of its busiest seasons to date with the launch of five new programs - creating memorable experiences for visitors to the riverfront.

The Conservancy is extremely pleased to have completed the construction of our first riverfront playground, located (immediately north of Rivard Plaza) Rivard Plaza.

Supporters of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy share a passion for the continued progress to make the Detroit riverfront a beautiful, exciting, safe, accessible and world-class gathering place for all.

The beautiful Detroit Riverfront and Dequindre Cut are featured in the article Rise and Shine Detroit in the March/April Issue of National Geographic Traveler Magazine

More than 150 volunteers from The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, Bank of America and the local community joined forces today with organizers from the national nonprofit organization KaBOOM! to build a new playground on the Detroit Riverfront. The new playpark, which was fully assembled from scratch in less than eight hours, is located adjacent to Rivard Plaza & Pavilion and the William G. Milliken State Park.

The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy announced today the official launch of its public art program, which can be seen through a variety of installations along the Detroit Riverfront and in the Dequindre Cut Greenway. Working with a team of metro Detroit's cultural institution leaders, the Conservancy has commissioned and secured original works of art, and is also a participant in the DIA's Inside/Out program.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing joined officials from the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, DTE Energy and others to announce that a $20 million hazardous material cleanup project has begun on the west third of the Belleview Development Site. 

Detroit RiverFront Conservancy President & CEO Faye Nelson talks with WDET's Craig Fahle about the Riverfront's continued transformation and our upcoming Shimmer on the River fundraiser.

Detroit RiverFront Conservancy President & CEO Faye Nelson talks with WDET's Craig Fahle about the Riverfront's continued transformation and our upcoming Shimmer on the River fundraiser.

Faye Alexander Nelson accepts the Soul and Spirit Humanitarian Award presented to her during the 24th Annual Soul Food Luncheon hosted by Judge Damon J. Keith, a senior judge for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.