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Riverfront
park
renamed
after
former
Gov.
Milliken
DETROIT
(AP) --
Another
piece in
the
redevelopment
of
Detroit's
long-ignored
riverfront
is
nearing
completion.
Work on
a
pathway
connecting
a
1.2-mile
pedestrian
and bike
trail to
Michigan's
first
state
urban
park
should
be
finished
in
December
and is
part of
ongoing
recreational
improvements
along
the
Detroit
River.
Tri-Centennial
State
Park was
renamed
Thursday
after
former
Michigan
Gov.
William
Milliken.
Milliken,
a
moderate
Republican
who
served
as
governor
from
1969 to
1983,
was an
advocate
of
reclaiming
the
riverfront
from
Detroit's
faded
manufacturing
era.
"Today
is a day
to
recognize
the
vision
of those
years
ago who
could
look
past the
abandoned
industrial
sites
and
silos,
and the
see the
potential
of a new
riverfront,"
Milliken
said at
Thursday's
rededication.
Most of
the
rusting
and
abandoned
warehouses
and all
the
concrete
silos
that
stood as
eyesores
have
been
demolished.
City
leaders
long
have
said a
vibrant
riverfront
is
needed
to
revive
Detroit's
downtown
area,
but the
poor
economy
and
mortgage
crisis
have
slowed
multimillion
dollar
housing
developments
along
the
waterway.
"Today
is a day
to
recognize
the
vision
of those
years
ago who
could
look
past the
abandoned
industrial
sites
and
silos,
and the
see the
potential
of a new
riverfront,"
Milliken
said at
Thursday's
rededication.
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us
Detroit)
A number
of
luxury
high-rise
homes,
condos
and
apartments
downtown
also sit
empty
because
many
buyers
are
unable
to get
financing.
The
31-acre
park,
which
opened
in 2007,
includes
a
52-slip
harbor
for
boats
and is
expected
to draw
visitors
to the
riverfront.
"We
anticipate
the park
becoming
another
must-see
destination
along
the
three
miles of
RiverWalk,"
said
Faye
Nelson,
president
and
chief
executive
of the
Detroit
Riverfront
Conservancy.
The
nonprofit
has
spearheaded
improvement
efforts
along
the
river.
The
Detroit
RiverWalk,
a
walking
and bike
path
stretching
more
than
five
miles
east and
west of
downtown,
is
central
to the
plans.
Most of
the
three
mile
section
east of
downtown
is
complete.
Actual
construction
has yet
to start
on the
two and
half
miles to
the
west.
A
terminal
and
wharf
for
water
taxis
and
cruise
ships
also is
planned
along
another
part of
the
riverfront.
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