Northwest Wayne News

Like all nonprofit groups in the U.S., the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy hasn't been able to pursue its usual avenues of fundraising during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the conservancy has gotten very clever about it, adapting to the times with its Being Apart Together virtual fundraiser.

"It's a challenging time for the conservancy, as it has been for everybody," Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Chairman Matt Cullen said during WJR's "The Paul W. Smith Show." "And yet people are really finding that the public space, and the riverfront in particular, is even more important during these periods of time."

The Being Apart Together fundraiser, described as "a physically distant but socially connected fundraiser," provides a responsible avenue to support the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's efforts.

Supporters who provide a donation of at least $250 to the Being Apart Together fundraiser will receive a box of local and Detroit-themed items sent to their home, according to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy newsletter.

Despite the pandemic, visits to the riverfront haven't decreased at all. In fact, visits have increased, Cullen said.

"In the past, we've had more than 3 million visitors a year," Cullen said told Paul W. Smith. "And this year our visitation to the riverfront itself, the Riverwalk, is about 20 percent up." It's clear, Cullen said, that "people just want to get outside."

In addition to being the conservancy's Chairman, Cullen is a a longtime supporter. In June 2018, Cullen and his wife, Karen, received Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's annual Shimmer Award for their longtime support.

That same month, the Cullens made a $4 million gift to the conservancy. Cullen Plaza in the Detroit Riverwalk is named for the couple.

Improvements along the riverfront haven't stopped, and construction is active along the approach to Ambassador Bridge, Cullen told Smith.

"If people went down there, they'd see cranes out in the water by the Uniroyal site, cleaning up some sediment outside of the river itself," Cullen said during the podcast. "And right after that, we'd get on land and we're going to connect Mount Elliot Park to Belle Isle and Gabriel Richard and the cities open up. Joseph Campau, a beautiful new greenway, takes you into the heart of the city. And we're moving west and we've done the piece over by the old Joe Louis Arena."

Plans for next year will be "fabulous" and will include portions of Centennial Park, May Creek and the new Ford project at the train station, Cullen said.

"The work that the community's doing is incredible and we're really excited to be part of it," he told Smith.

For more information about the fundraiser, visit Being Apart Together.