Landscape Architect Articles

The Detroit RiverWalk02-01-09 | News

The Detroit RiverWalk: Re-establishing Detroit as a World-Class, International Riverfront

By Kristi Gilbert, JJR

After its dedication, the East RiverWalk transforms the riverfront into a new, international front door to the city.
Photo Credits: Images courtesy of JJR

The east riverfront just prior to construction was a post-industrial, neglected edge given over to parking lots, outdoor storage and cement silos.

In a bold move to take back the river, JJR and its client, the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy (DRFC), worked with the city of Detroit, major stakeholders and private property owners to transform parking lots, cement silos, underutilized industrial sites and maintenance yards on the riverfront into the Detroit East RiverWalk.

The RiverWalk is a continuous, public linear park with a pedestrian promenade, non-motorized recreation trail, major plazas and specialty features. Thanks to the recent transformation of this three and a half mile stretch on Detroit?EUR??,,????'?????<

Rivard Plaza seen from the river reveals the existence of additional boat mooring and the concrete capped metal sheet pilings that needed to be incorporated into the design. Silver metal is used as a unifying design element to reflect the city?EUR??,,????'?????<

A Complex Process

JJR began the design process with a series of workshops?EUR??,,????'?????<

The design of Rivard Plaza includes an interpretation of the river?EUR??,,????'?????<

Multi-Use Themes

Activities such as walking, biking, in-line skating, boating, and fishing are just a few of the multiple waterfront recreation opportunities the RiverWalk provides. Small surprises and unusual features punctuate the experience, such as the River Carousel at Rivard Plaza and the Labyrinth at Gabriel Richard Park. The River Carousel promises to become a defining attraction for the City of Detroit for decades to come. The programming of the RiverWalk had to consider the lack of nearby retail and commercial activity for users. As a result, the two completed plazas and pavilions now provide concessions, restrooms, outdoor seating and space for equipment and storage.

The interactive water feature at Gabriel Richard parks allows for a relaxing historic place to view the river, MacArthur Bridge and Belle Isle. Each plaza has its own unique water feature themed to represent different aspects of water and the river. An outdoor sound system and wireless internet connections are also available at each pavilion.

The pavilions are simple, modern spaces organized along a masonry-spine wall that gives the plazas architectural scale, structure and color. Each pavilion is covered by a large, tensile canopy that provides shaded seating and acts as a major iconic element?EUR??,,????'?????<

Integral color concrete pavement and arcing jointing is used through the RiverWalk to reference the river while designating the primary pedestrian pathway. Located on the river side of the railing are boat moorings. The RiverWalk in the rear extending out into the water rests atop a newly constructed, pile-supported walkway. African textile design and kente cloth patterns inspired the design of linear spaces along the RiverWalk and serve to visually tie in adjacent architectural elements.

Many Challenges Met

One of the many challenges in creating a cohesive design was providing a series of connected walkways and paths that can be easily identified as the RiverWalk as it moves past a series of unrelated properties and land uses. One of the design solutions is a series of unique and easily identifiable pavement patterns and colors. Integral color concrete pavement is used throughout the RiverWalk to designate the primary pedestrian pathway. The concrete pavement integrates several colors and arcing jointing patterns that reference the river?EUR??,,????'?????<

At the Rivard Plaza, the custom-designed River Carousel celebrates the Detroit River by featuring 12 different native species of birds, fish, waterfowl and amphibians; it also includes a few mythical creatures, such as a river monster and river mermaid. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The orientation of plazas and the paving layout follow the line of remnant pilings that once serviced the ship building industries of the east riverfront. At the major plazas, and in a number of sections of the walkway, cultural influences including African textile and Kente cloth designs inspired the concrete unit paving patterns to provide visual interest to the spaces. In several locations along the RiverWalk special pavement is integrated into the design to create interpretive, contemplative, and educational experiences.

The pavilion and its shade canopy at Rivard Plaza create areas for relaxation and people watching with great views of the Detroit River and Windsor, Ontario. The pavilions on the RiverWalk are organized around a masonry spine wall for scale and color and include space for concessions, bike rental, staff and security offices. Plantings of ornamental onion and tufted hair grass create a contrasting texture.

History and Culture Combined

One segment of private property did not have enough land area to accommodate the full RiverWalk dimension and recreational trail. Rather than re-route the RiverWalk inland, a pile-supported walkway over the water adjacent to the existing seawall was constructed. Recognizing the great public benefit of continuous riverfront access, state and federal agencies supported the construction of a walkway beyond the harbor line, which was a rare permit approval.

The richness of the river?EUR??,,????'?????<

Because the Detroit River is a major migratory flyway for birds, waterfowl, and butterflies in North America, a Butterfly Garden has been created in Gabriel Richard Park at the RiverWalk?EUR??,,????'?????<

Sustainability and Nature

Because the Detroit River is a major migratory flyway for birds, waterfowl and butterflies in North America, a Butterfly Garden has been created in Gabriel Richard Park at the RiverWalk?EUR??,,????'?????<

The use of sustainable materials and practices was also an important goal in designing the RiverWalk. Although the RiverWalk did not fit the architecture-focused LEED certification process, ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The RiverWalk at its southern terminus, Gabriel Richard Plaza reveals the relationship of the walk to the river. The ramp, which has handicapped access, is one of the many areas along the walkway with access for fishing. To acknowledge the river?EUR??,,????'?????<

Planning for the Future

The RiverWalk is part of the larger economic reinvestment strategy for the greater downtown area of Detroit. New residential units, retail, and commercial uses are in the planning stages for the riverfront district adjacent to the RiverWalk. The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy has raised $102 million dollars to design, construct and maintain the East RiverWalk starting with a $50 million dollar challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation?EUR??,,????'?????<

The Conservancy also continues to work with its partners and the City of Detroit in extending the reach of the RiverWalk with an additional one-and one-half mile greenway connection to the north along the Dequindre Cut, the development of Phase 2 of the 31 acre Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor, a 21,000 square foot Public Dock and Terminal and other projects still in the planning phase.

At Gabriel Richard Plaza, a labyrinth provides another special site amenity?EUR??,,????'?????<

Results that Work

Two of the most significant results of the Detroit East RiverWalk have been the restoration of community pride and the changed perceptions of Detroiters, former residents and visitors. At the opening dedication, looking over the new Rivard Plaza and River Carousel, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm said, ?EUR??,,????'?????<

In response to another positive Detroit Free Press editorial in May 2008, a blogger commented online, ?EUR??,,????'?????<