So important was the riverfront to the economy, infrastructure and people of Detroit that French settlers literally named the city after its proximity to the river. They didn’t do that with Chicago, or with St. Louis, or with Cleveland. The splendor of Detroit’s riverfront is unique to the city.
Although it’s Detroit’s crown jewel, the riverfront remains an underutilized asset for many citizens. Even for people who love Detroit, who support the city and want to see it succeed - when they think of the riverfront they might picture Hart Plaza, or maybe the GM Plaza down by the Renaissance Center. It’s a relatively small group who fully understand the breadth of revitalization happening across the five-and-a-half miles which span from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard park.
But the riverfront is so much more, and the improvements that the DRFC has been able to accomplish should be showcased on a grand scale. The riverfront is not just better than it was ten years ago - when blight and decay had taken over - it’s better than it ever was.
The goal was to create an experience that will immerse guests in this reality, so that they will walk away converted, on fire with a passion to evangelize what is happening on the riverfront. This is branded as the Riverfront Revival.
Key Elements of the Riverfront Revival Experience
- Opportunity for guests to visit multiple sites along the riverfront
- Travel by water for the full experience
- Big, brash, gaudy, over the top, glitzy entertainment: think Detroit Party Marching Band, Gospel Choir
- Installations which juxtapose the riverfront today against how it looked throughout its history (both the blighted years and the golden age
- Detroit centric food and drinks
- Outdoor and indoor experiences (to accommodate unexpected inclement weather)