The area contains the
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge which is the only international
wildlife preserve in
North America, uniquely located in the heart of a major metropolitan area. The Refuge includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and waterfront lands along of the
Detroit River and
Western Lake Erie shoreline.
Belle Isle Park Belle Isle Park is a island
state park in the
Detroit River managed by the
State of Michigan. Until November 12, 2013, it was a city-operated park operated by the City of Detroit Recreation Department. It connects to the city by the
MacArthur Bridge. It is home to the
Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (1904), the oldest conservatory in the United States, the
Detroit Yacht Club, the
Detroit Boat Club, the
Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a
Coast Guard post, and a municipal
golf course. The park contains a Nature Center where visitors are able to traverse wooded trails and view wildlife natural habitats. The island includes a half-mile (800 m) swimming beach.
Aretha Franklin Amphitheater The
Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, formerly known as
Chene Park, is located on the near east side of
Detroit, at the foot of Chene Street, along the banks of the
Detroit River. Located just east of
William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, it contains a 6,000-seat
amphitheater where concerts are regularly scheduled every summer.
Jazz, Classic
Soul and
Rhythm and Blues acts are the staples of the season. The
park also includes park trails, the Chene Park Fountain, and the Lake Lounge bar. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy has connected the park to the
Renaissance Center along a riverside promenade. The park was originally named for Charles Chene, a French immigrant who owned a strip of land along the shores of the Detroit River that extended into what is now just east of downtown. On September 4, 2018, Detroit City Council unanimously voted to rename Chene Park the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater after
the famous singer who died on August 16, 2018. The change took place before the 2019 season.
Dequindre Cut Greenway Dequindre Cut Greenway is a non-motorized trail extending from the
Detroit River northward, with the future potential to connect to the Ferndale-Birmingham greenway in
Oakland County. The mile (1.6 km) long trail primarily connects the
Lafayette Park neighborhood and
Eastern Market to the Riverwalk. The
greenway utilizes half of the corridor, with a wide paved path with separate lanes for biking and walking. Work continued in and around the complex until 2005. The Renaissance Center totals 5.5 million square feet (511,000 m2), making it one of the world's largest office complexes. s occasionally dock in Detroit.
Hart Plaza and the Dock of Detroit Philip A. Hart Plaza in
downtown Detroit, is a
city plaza along the
Detroit River. It is located more or less on the site at which
Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac landed in 1701 when he founded
Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, the settlement that became Detroit. In 2011, the Detroit-Wayne County
Port Authority opened its new
cruise ship passenger terminal and dock at Hart Plaza, adjacent to the Renaissance Center, which receives major cruise ships such as the
MS Columbus and the Yorktown. The plaza, which is named for the late U.S. Senator
Philip Hart, opened in 1975 and has a capacity for about 40,000 people. At the center of the plaza is the
Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain, designed by
Isamu Noguchi and Walter Budd in 1978.
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park The
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park is a regional park located on the former West Riverfront Park grounds at the far western end of the Riverwalk. The park features a bear-shaped slide, large-animal themed play structures, a water garden, public grills, green space, and panoramic views of the Detroit River,
Ambassador Bridge, and the
Gordie Howe International Bridge. The
Huron-Clinton Metroparks Water Garden within the park is a water garden providing a pebble beach and walking paths. The water garden is Metropark's first presence within the city of Detroit. The
William Davidson Sport House at the park is a giant covered pavilion over two
NBA regulation-sized
Detroit Pistons themed basketball courts. The courts plan to be open year-round. The park opened to the public on October 25, 2025.
River Place The historic
Stroh River Place complex is a mixed-use residential development adjacent to the
Roberts Riverwalk Hotel and Residence, the redeveloped site of the
Parke-Davis research laboratory, a
National Historic Landmark located along the east riverfront promenade. The historic
Dry Dock Complex is an additional redeveloped site along the east riverfront which includes residential units and retail.
River Walk The Detroit International Riverfront includes a -mile (8.8 km) promenade called the River Walk which is to extend from the
Ambassador Bridge to
Belle Isle. The path is located directly on the river, sometimes bridging it. The path is 62 feet ( m) wide in most places, with separate lanes for pedestrian and wheeled (such as
bicycles or
inline skate) traffic. Pavilions, fishing piers and benches are located at intervals along the path. The east riverfront promenade connects an area known as Rivertown. It extends along the east riverfront area from the
Huntington Place convention and exhibit facility to the
Belle Isle State Park bridge and includes the
Renaissance Center, GM Plaza and Promenade,
William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor,
Stroh River Place, Chene Park, Mt Elliott Park and
Gabriel Richard Park. The river walk is designed to supplement new retail and residential development, and includes the newly renovated historic
Alden Park Towers. Architect
Eric J. Hill aided in its design. The first of continuous riverfront promenade and two of the four planned pavilions opened to the public on June 6, 2007. Rivard Plaza located at the foot of Rivard Street features a covered seating, a carousel, concessions and bike rentals. Richard Plaza located in Gabriel Richard Park features covered seating, concessions and a butterfly garden. The River Walk is continuous from Joe Louis Arena to Milliken State Park with unfinished sections between the state park and River Place. From River Place the River Walk is then continuous through Mt Elliott Park to the former site of the Uniroyal Tire factory west of Belle Isle. The west riverfront promenade development is not expected to be completed before 2022. The west riverfront includes the high-rise
Riverfront Towers. The west riverfront promenade will eventually connect to
River Rouge in the southwest side. from across the
Detroit River|alt=View of the state park from across the Detroit River
William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor (formerly
Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor) is a
state park in
Michigan, and one of only two state parks located within an urban area. The park consist of the former city-owned St. Aubin Park and Marina. Located just east of downtown
Detroit in the Near-East Riverfront, it covers on the
Detroit River, and includes a 52-slip harbor of refuge. A conical brick light tower marks the harbor entrance. The park's first phase opened in 2003, included refurbishing of the marina and construction of lighthouse. Construction on the second phase, adjacent to Rivard Plaza, to expand the park started in summer 2008 and was completed in summer 2009. In fall 2009, the state park was renamed in honor of former Michigan
Governor William G. Milliken. ==Riverfront activities==