Having been invited, Friday morning, to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s breakfast and tour, I gladly took the day off from work to hear and especially to see the progress of the extensive construction. After the morning speeches, there would be a hard-hat tour and a yacht cruise on the Detroit River. I had the secondary agenda of showing petanque to those who attended.

The morning began at around 8:00 a.m. with city, state and company leaders assembling at the GM Promenade. It was pretty hot out even at that early hour so I grabbed a table with the sun at my back (beter for photos). I sat at the table with John Stroh and his son, devouring the fresh fruit and pastries, in good view of the speakers which included the Conservancy’s head officers; Faye Nelson, President & CEO; Matt Cullen, Co-Chair, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy; Derrick Miller, Co-Chair, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy; and David Page, Chairman.

As there is already $250 million raised from Ford, GM, Toyota, Stroh, Kresge etc etc, as expected there were many “thank yous” offered up. But there was a thorough progress report as well, with mention of the conversion of the Dequindre Cut into a safe and usable passage from the city’s center to the riverfront.

Around the buffet table areas were architectural renderings of the various promenades and pavillions built or soon to be completed. [I will post all of my photos HERE (Flickr site)]

The water carousel which is located just at the end of the walkway leading upriver from the Ren-Cen is well underway. I met up with Harriet Saperstein, a longtime riverfront activist, who was equally optimistic about the progress. She said she’s been waiting 40 years for this…

More details about the conservancy’s plans can be found HERE.

Community donations in the form of Inscribed Bricks & Pavers are available – I plan to have my club’s brick ordered soon.