Detroit Riverfront Conservancy moves ahead with new park despite embezzlement allegations
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A rendering of an outdoor classroom at Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park. Rendering: Courtesy of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
Major facets of the landmark $80 million Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park are coming together along Detroit's riverfront after years of planning.
Why it matters: The new leadership of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy has pledged to finish the park without delay as the nonprofit grapples with the fallout of a $40 million embezzlement scandal that unfolded around Memorial Day.
Zoom in: Some concrete has been poured and more is on the way for a sports structure with basketball courts and gathering space in the 22-acre park.
- The structure features support pillars slanted at slight angles, resembling tree branches.
- It is meant to portray the "hand of God reaching down into the earth and grabbing a piece of earth and pulling it up," according to conservancy spokesman Marc Pasco, who describes the look as industrial-meets-earth.
Between the lines: Ryan Sullivan, announced as the nonprofit's interim CEO in May, has enacted a four-pronged strategy in response to the scandal — the "four Ps": prosecute, preserve, protect and prosper.
- The park is a central element of the "prosper" piece, representing a major segment of the 5.5-mile stretch of riverfront the conservancy has been connecting since 2003.
Catch up quick: In June, federal prosecutors charged the conservancy's former CFO, William A. Smith, with bank and wire fraud, stemming from allegations he stole tens of millions from the nonprofit over nearly 12 years, draining its cash reserves.
Follow the money: To help finish the park, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan established a $35 million fund to pay contractors and support new fundraising.
Flashback: Wilson Centennial Park, just west of downtown, had been in stages of planning and development for around seven years when news of the embezzlement broke. Construction started in 2022.
What they're saying: "There's really going to be nothing like it in the city of Detroit — or in our region, for that matter," Sullivan told Axios in an interview last week. "So it's truly going to be something spectacular for our community and for our region."
The latest: The conservancy is on track to complete the park by next fall on its $80 million budget, he says.
- Work so far has included adding dirt to give the property hilly topography and shaping a future water garden.
- The 5-acre Delta Dental playground is nearly complete, with statuesque animal play structures installed, including a bear-shaped slide, an otter, beaver and fox.
The intrigue: The site's industrial history has made for some fascinating findings during construction, Sullivan says.
- "There's all kinds of artifacts that were found underground … old rail lines, old docks, old roadways, old footings for a highway bridge. It's like unearthing chapters of Detroit's history throughout the job."
What's next: Grass will be planted this fall. Within the next month, workers will begin installing 500 trees across the park.