Wilson Park to open with riverfront bash
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Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park. Photo: Nadir Ali for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park on Detroit's west riverfront will open to the public with a big party Oct. 25-26.
Why it matters: The landmark $80 million, 22-acre park in the works since 2017 is unlocking substantially more of the city's iconic waterfront for public use.
State of play: The leaders of the nonprofit Detroit Riverfront Conservancy pledged last year to finish the park without delay as they grappled with the fallout from the conservancy's former CFO stealing more than $40 million from the organization.
- Conservancy CEO Ryan Sullivan said last September that the park would be complete by fall 2025 — and as of now, it's on track.
The latest: A press conference and grand opening at 10am on Saturday, Oct. 25 will kick off a weekend of celebration, including the conservancy's popular Harvest Fest. More details are forthcoming.
- The park's layout will include a sports structure, a playground with animal-shaped play structures, a water garden and a green space for events.
What they're saying: "This is a huge opportunity for the west side of the city," Sullivan tells Axios of the park's significance.
- Wilson Park and the nearby Southwest Greenway add significant west-side green space to the existing riverwalk — which stretches from Belle Isle on the east side through downtown.
- "We're really thrilled to deliver a park that has something for all Detroiters to enjoy," Sullivan says.
Between the lines: As the conservancy has rounded out work on the park over the last year, it's contended with a federal investigation into embezzlement by former CFO William Smith.
- A $35 million philanthropic fund was established to help the conservancy complete riverfront work.
- Smith was sentenced this April to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.
- Smith is asking for more time to report to prison, per the Free Press, for reasons that aren't being made public.
The conservancy's civil suit to recover stolen money is still ongoing, Sullivan tells Axios.
Zoom out: After the crisis, the conservancy undertook a top-to-bottom review of its operations.
- It's "had record turnout for different events and different programs over the last year-plus, which I think really speaks to the importance of the riverfront to the city," Sullivan says.
- "And despite the challenges that the organization has had and has persevered through, the city continues to embrace and love its riverfront, and I think that's a really great aspect of this, looking at things a year later."