The announcements included the awarding of $15 million from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the nonprofit agency that builds, maintains, and operates the Detroit RiverWalk.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., who helped bring $29 million in federal funds for riverfront redevelopment, said the projects announced today will help deliver "a riverfront worthy of our city."

He added, "We are getting our river back, folks."

And Faye Alexander Nelson, president and CEO of the nonprofit Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, said at the news conference at Mt. Elliott Park on the riverfront, "We are marching toward the finish line."
Among specific projects announced today: The conservancy will begin construction immediately on a remake of Mt. Elliott Park. By the end of 2013, the park will get a Great Lakes Schooner theme, water cannons and other water features for children to play with, and a park pavilion similar to what exists at Rivard Plaza on the RiverWalk.

At Gabriel Richard Park just east of the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle, a new parking lot and new walking paths will help open up access between Jefferson Avenue and the river. The park will also get lighting enhancements throughout.
When the current cleanup of the Uniroyal site is completed, construction will begin to extend the RiverWalk from Mt. Elliott Park across Uniroyal to connect with Gabriel Richard Park.

Meanwhile, the conservancy will also build two small pieces of the RiverWalk on either side of the existing Chene Park so visitors to the RiverWalk will not have to detour to Atwater Street.

The conservancy was created in 2003 to build and operate the RiverWalk, with major funding from the Kresge Foundation and General Motors, among others. Since then, it has completed about 80% of the RiverWalk between Hart Plaza and Belle Isle.
Plans are under way to finish the east riverfront and then turn to building the RiverWalk from Hart Plaza west to the Ambassador Bridge for a total 5.5-mile continual waterfront promenade.

Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, which will administer the federal grant money for the RiverWalk, set an even bigger goal at today's announcement. Noting that plans are under way to build the Snyder-backed New International Trade Crossing bridge about two miles downriver from the Ambassador, Steudle said the RiverWalk eventually could extend from "bridge to bridge to bridge."
Bing told the gathering today, "Detroit's riverfront is truly a jewel in our city." And Snyder added, "I think it's wonderful that it's a Monday morning and we are celebrating success in Detroit."
George Jackson, president of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., told the gathering, "We went from a vision to a plan to actual implementation."

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