Northwest Wayne News

Detroit is looking to transform its riverfront, with a big part of the project being the development of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park.

“As a longtime patron of the Detroit Riverfront, I am proud to kick off the construction of Wilson Park,” Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II said last week as he marked the groundbreaking. “Michigan is full of unmatched natural beauty, and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park will be no different. Gov. Whitmer and I have made historic investments in Michigan’s state and local parks, and we are committed to ensuring that every Michigander can experience and enjoy our natural resources.”

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is overseeing the change, which calls for the park to undergo a transformation that will help it become a part of the beautiful Detroit riverfront, according to a release. 

Redevelopment plans were first mentioned in 2017, when Wilson Centennial was known as West Riverfront Park, the Riverfront Conservancy’s website says. It solicited plans for the redesign and chose one that was put forth by Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates. The area was renamed in 2018 for Wilson, who was a big supporter of the change.

The project is expected to cost about $50 million, the website says.

Wilson Centennial Park currently marks the western edge of Detroit's RiverWalk. It is about 22 acres that lies between Rosa Parks Boulevard and 8th Street along the Detroit River. When the revamped park opens in 2023, it will feature the Delta Dental Play Garden, an expansive lawn for programs and special events, basketball courts in the sport house and a large water garden, the governor's release said.

On average, every $1 invested in land conservation leads to $4 in economic benefit, meaning the Building Michigan Together Plan’s $250 million investment in state parks is going to yield $1 billion in economic benefits for families, small businesses and local communities.