Construction of Wilson Park has begun near the Detroit riverfront. | Fredlyfish4/Wikimedia Commons
Construction of Wilson Park has begun near the Detroit riverfront. | Fredlyfish4/Wikimedia Commons
Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D-Mich.) recently joined city officials in a groundbreaking ceremony for a park in downtown Detroit.
The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park will be transformed into part of the Detroit riverfront under the leadership of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, according to a press release from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office.
"As a longtime patron of the Detroit riverfront, I am proud to kick off the construction of Wilson Park,” Gilchrist said in the press release. “Michigan is full of unmatched natural beauty, and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park will be no different."
The park currently serves as the western boundary of the Detroit RiverWalk and spans approximately 22 acres. It is located between Rosa Parks Boulevard and 8th Street along the banks of the Detroit River.
The recent groundbreaking is part of the Building Michigan Together Plan to renovate state and municipal parks and trails to promote outdoor recreation and tourism, the press release noted.
"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," Gilchrist said.
The park is slated to open in 2023. It will feature a play garden, a spacious lawn for programs and special events, basketball courts, and a large water garden, according to the press release.
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