detroit riverfront13

DetroitDowntown Royal OakMayor Mike Duggan

The Weekender: Guilty plea // Detroit after Duggan // Another historic rehab // Things to do

Hey friends, it's Jer. Hope you're having a good weekend. Let's get into 12 things to know around town. As always, my thoughts are in italics and if this is your first time here sign up for future notes free. 📰 What to know 💰 Will Smith, ex-CFO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, pleaded guilty Friday to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Smith admitted to embezzling more than $40 million from the nonprofit between 2012 and 2024, using elaborate schemes to divert funds to personal...

Detroit ZooAuburn HillsPrimark

PODCAST: New Baby Gorilla, Primark, Downtown Development Haircut, and New Riverfront Homes

Welcome to your all-local daily news podcast serving Metro Detroit! We kick off with the heartwarming news of a baby gorilla born at the Detroit Zoo, the first in nearly 100 years. Bandia, a first-time mom, and her baby are doing well, although the Great Apes building is temporarily closed to guests to give them a calm and quiet space. Next, we discuss the upcoming opening of Primark's first Michigan store at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills. Set to open on September 12, the new loc...

Boat Nerddetroit riverfronteducation

New Shipping Container Kiosk On Riverfront To Teach Students About The Great Lakes

The Portal View is a shipping container repurposed to provide an education experience about the Great Lakes and the maritime industry’s past and future. It opens to the public on May 22 (that’s National Maritime Day) and is located right outside of the Port of Detroit, between Hart Plaza and the Renaissance Center. The container will be home to Great Lakes maritime artifacts, educational boards, and an interactive computer provided by Boat Nerd. “As an economic engine, the Port of Detroit...

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Detroit Hydrofest Returns This Weekend With Free Friday

This weekend, head over to the Detroit Riverfront for some family-friendly fun and lots of boat races as part of the nation’s longest continuously running unlimited hydroplane race. The 100th Annual UAW-GM Detroit Hydrofest starts Friday, August 26 and ends Sunday, August 28. In 1916, the first sanctioned hydroplane race took place on the Detroit River, and it’s been a staple of Detroit tradition ever since. The event has come a long way since 1916, and it now includes Free Friday. Free F...

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Plans For Riverfront Overhaul Should Give Detroiters Opportunity To Touch Our Water

Let’s first start out by saying the work the Detroit Riverfront is doing has been impressive. They’ve been part of making large change on a swath of land that in recent memory was completely unaccessible to the public and opening it back up for everyone’s use. Their good stewardship has been rewarded, as we reported earlier, with a funding campaign that has exceeded their goal. And they have a public input process about plans for the east riverfront from now until 2050, and other plans running...

detroit riverfront

Detroit RiverFront Conservancy Raises $163 Million For Waterfront, Exceeds Goal By $23 Million

The Detroit Riverfront has gone through a host of changes over the last few years – and more are coming, thanks to a goal-breaking fundraising campaign that netted a whopping $163 million for projects on Detroit’s waterfront. The original goal had been to raise $140 million. Every great city has a gathering space where the entire community feels welcome and feels a sense of civic pride,” said Detroit RiverFront Conservancy President & CEO Mark Wallace. “Everyone who visits the RiverWalk can...

detroit riverfrontthings to do

QUICK TIP: Fifth Annual Light Up The Riverfront This Friday

Do you have plans for Friday night yet? Sure it is only Tuesday, but we were reminded about a really fun event that is being put on by the Detroit Riverfront Conservatory and Riviére 28. This year the Light Up the Riverfront will be at Gabriel Richard Park from 6:00 PM until 10:00 PM. Light Up the Riverfront is an annual BBQ and get together thrown by Rivière28, the Detroit Riverfront Conservatory’s active professionals auxiliary. The evening will be laid back, and it’s a great way to meet oth...

Detroitdetroit riverfrontDevelopment

LOOK: $65 Million Orleans Landing On The East Riverfront Breaks Ground

The riverfront is starting to heat up as a development destination. On Tuesday, Partners of Rivertown Phase, LLC were joined by business and community leaders to mark the start of construction with a ceremonial groundbreaking for Orleans Landing — a $65 million public-private funded, mixed-use development located on the Detroit Riverfront, and the first market-rate residential construction project on Detroit’s East Riverfront in 25 years. Located on 7.7 acres, adjacent to the Central Bu...

Ambassador Bridge CompanyDetroitdetroit riverfront

Agreement Paves Way For Large Expansion of Detroit’s Riverside Park And Room For Maroun's Bridge

The City of Detroit and the Ambassador Bridge Company have struck and agreement that would enable expansion and improvements to Riverside Park and the exterior of Michigan Central Depot. If the agreement is approved by Detroit City Council, the Ambassador Bridge Co. would transfer 4.8 acres of waterfront property to the city. This transfer will allow the city to expand Riverside Park to the west. The Bridge Co. would also pay the city $3 million to be invested in Riverside Park improvements....

detroit riverfrontGabriel Richard ParkGabriel Richard Parking

Gabriel Richard Park Gets New Parking Lot, Pathway from Jefferson Ave. to Riverfront

One of the things people sometimes forget is that the Detroit Riverfront extends beyond the area by General Motors HQ and Milliken State Park. To that end, Gabriel Richard Park has seen some marked improvements over the last year. Now, to make it more accessible, there’s a parking lot with 36 spaces so that you can enjoy the river near the iconic MacArthur Bridge, across from Belle Isle. Before, it was hard to access the park. You pretty much had to park in the Armory parking lot that’s in p...

detroit riverfrontExplore MichiganGoogle Trekker

Take A Gander At These 10 Great Google Views Of Michigan

Several of Michigan’s most iconic landmarks and scenes are finally on Street View in Google Maps, thanks to a partnership between Pure Michigan and Google. Pure Michigan members and volunteers took more than 44,000 panoramic photos with the Google Street View Trekker, a backpack-like system that has a camera mounted on top of it. We’ve gone through the Google views and selected 10 of the most breathtaking places to explore in Michigan that you can now enjoy from the comfort of your home, right...

Detroit river daysdetroit riverfront

It's Going To Be Warm Again, We Promise: Here's Info On The 9th Annual River Days Festial

We know that it’s 20 or so degrees out there, but we promise, warmer temperatures are ahead. After all, in our inbox was the information for the 9th Annual River Days Festival! The event, which runs from June 19-21, is an iconic summertime event that showcases the beauty of the Detroit riverfront. River Days Festival spans almost a mile of the Detroit River, from the GM Renaissance Center to Rivard Plaza and the William G. Milliken State Park. Last year, the Conservancy’s family-friendly eve...

Detroit River walkdetroit riverfrontDetroit riverfront conservancy

These 6 Before And After Photos Show You Just How Far The Detroit Riverfront Has Come

We’re big fans of the Detroit RiverWalk. Whether it is walking our dogs, enjoying the boats or talking with the people, the Detroit riverfront is a gem that has been reclaimed from heavy industry that blocked access to one of the city’s greatest attractions, the river. They’re taking the initiative west to Rosa Parks, and near these photos private development is picking up. It’s great to see so much green that everyone will be able to use in the city. Below are photos of what they have already...