Riverwalk

[rbdetsport]

I parked in the surface lot surrounded by parking garages near the RenCen. We walked down to the State Park, and that was on the way.

[wolverine]

The cost is $35 per head. That is higher than normal. (Most helicopter tours cost $20). If its just you going up (with no other people in your group), there is no wait.

I debated it due to the price, and then I thought... when the hell is next time I'll get this chance on such a nice day?

BTW, I parked at the casino garage. Free with validation as always.

[Michi]

^ Uh, so duffus, when do we get to see the rest of the photos? I thought $35 was worth it, even if it is more expensive than most copter rides. It's not every day that we get the opportunity, so might as well pitch in the extre $15.

Thanks for the flattery, rb. I don't have many new photos but will post some sometime after the fryerworks...which will probably be delayed as it looks like Wednesday is the only day in the past month and probably the future month that we will get rain. GOSH!

[wolverine]

I'm doing some heavy photoshopping on the rest. It was kind of hazy. Better dish out the contrast leveling. BTW, nice sunset photo of the skyline rb. I must have missed that one loading the first time around.

[rbdetsport]

BTW, nice sunset photo of the skyline rb. I must have missed that one loading the first time around.

[Veloise]

i also went down there 2nite it was alot of fun but it was jammed pack but WORTH IT. It was great i saw lots of cars with out of state license plates which is always a good sign especially in the city=) Can't wait for the frieworks!does anyone know a good time to head down before the fireworks?

[Michi]

You have a folding bike? That's sweet!

It doesn't fold down on you when riding it though, does it?

[jbr12]

They are definitely cool. Here's a brand I've seen before:

http://www.dahon.com/intl/glidep8.htm

[Veloise]

They are definitely cool. Here's a brand I've seen before:

...

[ericsprague]

An update from John Kerr at the Port Authority on Phase II of Centennial State Park:

Heard back from the State Park project managers ... it sounds like they will attempt to start around June of this year. Probably will conclude with some final cleanup and landscaping in the Spring of 2009. Hopefully, a lot of activity scheduled for this Summer!

This will rejuvenate the currently run-down section of riverfront between Rivard Plaza (end of Riverwalk section where the carousel is) and the Tricentennial State Park marina (where the lighthouse is), connecting the two. Hopefully as part of this effort, some linkage will also be established to the Dequindre Cut which is to be completed this year, even though the adjoining sections of Tricentennial State Park (away from the river) are not part of Phase II.

[ericsprague]

Here are my notes from the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy community forum held last night at the GM/UAW headquarters on the Riverfront (which I learned about through Model D Media). There was a lot more detailed information on a broader range of projects than I expected, presented by the leadership of all the primary involved entities:

- Riverfront Conservancy (Riverwalk and Dequindre Cut - Faye Alexander Nelson, Andrea Carroll)

- DEGC (Dequindre Cut - Michael Dempsey)

- MI DNR (Tricentennial Park - Vicki Anthes)

- Eastern Market Corporation (Eastern Market/neighborhood - Dan Carmody)

The four presentations lasted about 1.5 hours, followed by Q/A with many good questions asked and answered in varying levels of detail. There were many others who still had questions which there was not time to answer due to time allotted for facility use. Presenters did spend some additional time afterwards talking to individual audience members.

There should be a LOT of progress on all of these this Spring/Summer and continuing through 2009. I may have a few details wrong and have surely missed some significant items, as there was so much information presented, but I think the following notes from the presentations are pretty accurate:

Riverwalk:

- Concessions (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and bike rentals to begin at Rivard Plaza in May

- Gabriel Richard Park improvements related to completed G.R. Riverwalk pavillion: working with city on developing parking for improved Riverwalk access at this end of the Riverwalk; pathways to be built from Riverwalk through G.R. Park up to Jefferson for neighborhood connectivity

- Port Authority Passenger Terminal/Dock construction expected to begin this summer, leading to completion of that section of Riverwalk (between Ren-Cen and Hart Plaza)

- Tricentennial State Park portion of Riverwalk (to be built by state, not DRC) designed (details below); construction to begin this Summer, be completed Summer 2009

- Uniroyal site portion of Riverwalk funded, currently in design (construction in 2009)

- Red Bull Air Races - 5/31-6/1 - major international event, good exposure for Riverwalk

- River Days Festival - 6/20-6/23 (Fireworks Monday 6/23) - 2007 festival attendance >700,000 EXCLUDING Fireworks attendance, greatly exceeded anticipated 150,000

- Multiple community input sessions planned for 2008 to allow greater community involvement in design and programming decisions

Dequindre Cut Phase I:

- Phase I (Woodbridge to Gratiot) to be completed by July

- Retaining walls currently being repaired/replaced as needed

- Street-level boundary fencing repair/replacement (as needed) to begin in coming weeks

- Pavement to start being laid as soon as weather permits (April) - 6' bike lanes each way + 8' pedestrian lane - occupying 1/2 of cut

- Other 1/2 being maintained for future light rail or trolley

- Lighting, cameras, security boxes, etc. to be installed, similar in style to Riverwalk

- Security will be handled by DRC from Rivard Plaza station, with walking and bike patrols

- Extensive lanscaping to be done using native species

- All removed vegetation was non-native species which if just trimmed back would have quickly overgrown the cut again and overtaken native species to be planted

- Currently no specific plan for wildlife management (hopefully many displaced/new animals will regain habitat after re-vegetation)

- Non-obscene graffiti being considered art, to be left for urban atmopsphere/visual interest

- 2 of 4 bridges originally to be removed will now instead be left and repaired for additional pedestrian linkages accross the cut (still structurally sound for this use)

- 3 entrances/exits - Woodbridge, Lafayette, Gratiot

- No logistical reason for not having additional entrances in between, but current funding/initial phase will just provide these 3; audience pointed out that in the mean time residents of surrounding neighborhoods may make their own entrances

- For first phase, access to remainder of cut north of Gratiot exit will be blocked (fenced) to respect current owner (RR)

- Design (by JJR) and negotiations with RR have begun on Phase II, from Gratiot north into Eastern Market, hopefully allowing construction in early 2009 depending on funding

- Importance of interim linkages (signage/access) to Riverwalk and Easter Market was emphasized by attendees (Hariet Saperstein)

- Many major unforseen obstacles have been overcome - unmapped sewer identification/reconstruction, large underground drains, etc. - cause of delays

- Minneapolis Midtown greenway has been used as a primary model (also a below-grade urban rail to trail conversion)

Tricentennial State Park Phase II (Lowland portion - between Atwater Street and Detroit River):

- Detailed designs shown in presentation; construction to start Summer 2008, be completed Summer 2009

- Links Riverwalk's Rivard Plaza to existing completed Tricentennial State Park Harbor

- Primary feature will be a wetland which will filter water from surrounding streets through multiple areas of aquatic vegetation, ultimately feeding into Detroit River

- Wetland will be surrounded on north by bicycle trail, on south by walking trail

- Trails will take some stylistic cues from completed Riverwalk (colored pavement, etc.) but be surrounded by more naturalistic elements - softer vegetation, rock outcroppings, etc.

- Large rocks (limestone) will be used for signage, seating, etc., as in rural state parks (suggesting 1930's WPA conservation corps construction)

- All lighting will be LED-based

- Wetland viewing platforms (aluminum?) with leaf pattern canopies, providing interesting shadows, dappled shade

- Interpretive signs throughout park

- Wildlife observation trails

- Fishing will be facilitated all along river edge

- Peter Stroh memorial - garden area/sculpture (substantial park funding provided by his estate)

- Green energy demonstration area

- West entrance will be via Rivard Plaza of Riverwalk, rather than directly into park, making Rivard Plaza (and its parking lot) the primary gateway into the state park

- Total cost of Phase II: ~$5M

- Public input will be sought for design of Phases III+, as these are still blank slates design-wise (other than obvious need to connect to Dequindre Cut)

Eastern Market Area Redevelopment:

- Restored Shed 2 to open June 2008

- Shed 3 to be converted to year-round climatized market hall; this is the most critical project for the market redevelopment, will take a great deal of effort to be successful as a resource for both local residents (all income levels, multiple days per week) and visitors/tourists (primarily weekends)

- Shed 4 (with direct access to parking structure) to be used for education - health, cooking demonstrations, etc.

- Shed 5 to be improved, used for Horticulture

- Sheds 5 and 6 - Wholesale

- Streetscape improvements will be done

- Parking garage will need to be made cheaper - currently underused due to $4 cost vs. free surrounding parking

- Dequindre Cut will be a critical pedestrian interface for Eastern Market area, linking residents to market (currently rather forbidding for non-vehicular access)

- 2.5 acre garden/farm planned for production and education purposes

- With food cost increases due to competition with biofuels, local (Detroit) food production becomes more

cost-effective, important

- Eastern Market and Detroit can become leaders in the local food production movement

[wolverine]

Thanks for posting these updates. I look forward to part of the Dequindre cut opening this summer.