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With the
glistening
Detroit
River as
the
backdrop,
the
public
gathered
with
representatives
of the
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy
and
local
and
regional
funders
on
Monday,
August
27 to
put
shovels
in the
sand and
launch
construction
of
Atwater
Beach,
which
will be
the East
Riverfront’s
newest
family-friendly
destination
when it
opens
next
year.
Renderings
of
Atwater
Beach
can be
found
here.
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us
Detroit)
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Detroit
Riverfront
Conservancy
breaks
ground
on
much-anticipated
Atwater
Beach
Funders
unite to
create a
new
community
space
where
everyone
is
welcome.
DETROIT
- With
the
glistening
Detroit
River as
the
backdrop,
the
public
gathered
with
representatives
of the
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy
and
local
and
regional
funders
on
Monday,
August
27 to
put
shovels
in the
sand and
launch
construction
of
Atwater
Beach,
which
will be
the East
Riverfront’s
newest
family-friendly
destination
when it
opens
next
year.
Renderings
of
Atwater
Beach
can be
found
here.
“The
community
has been
in love
with the
idea of
Atwater
Beach
from the
day we
first
introduced
the
concept,”
says
Mark
Wallace,
president
and CEO
of the
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy.
“People
have
been
asking
for this
type of
family-friendly
destination
for
years.
The
great
momentum
that is
currently
happening
along
the East
Riverfront
is
possible
thanks
to a
passionate
set of
funding
partners,
including
the
William
Davidson
Foundation.”
William
Davidson
Foundation
is the
lead
funder
for the
beach
development
project.
“We’re
delighted
to work
with
funding
partners
who
share
our
commitment
to
Detroit
and the
riverfront,”
says
Darin
McKeever,
president
and CEO
of the
William
Davidson
Foundation.
“We’re
passionate
about
the idea
of
creating
and
enhancing
welcoming,
world-class
destinations
that
inspire
visitors
and
enrich
the
quality
of life
for
Detroit’s
current
and
future
residents.”
A
shovel-in-the-sand
ceremony
for
adults
and
children
followed
a brief
program
during
the
event.
Speakers
included:
•
Matt
Cullen,
chairman,
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy
• Robert
Davis,
senior
advisor,
Michigan
Department
of
Transportation
• Katy
Locker,
Detroit
program
director,
the John
S. and
James L.
Knight
Foundation
• Darin
McKeever,
president
and CEO,
William
Davidson
Foundation
• Will
Smith,
chief
financial
officer,
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy
• John
Stroh,
board
member,
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy
• Mark
Wallace,
president
and CEO,
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy
Since
2003,
the
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy
has
worked
to
transform
Detroit’s
riverfront
into an
inclusive
and
accessible
5.5-mile
public
amenity,
providing
safe and
attractive
access
for
residents
and
visitors,
with
enhanced
mobility
options
and
sustainable
street
improvements.
Facilitating
economic
development
among
local
businesses
and
property
owners
also is
a
priority,
all the
while
preserving
the
heritage
of the
area.
Atwater
Beach
Project
Development
Plans
The
Atwater
Beach
project
transforms
a former
industrial
site
along
the East
Riverfront
into a
vibrant
family-friendly
destination
for
people
of all
ages to
enjoy.
Most
recently,
the
3.2-acre
parcel
was used
as a
buoy
storage
site and
before
that, it
was used
by one
of the
several
cement
companies.
Atwater
Beach
will
feature:
• A
large,
sandy
beach
area and
lush
green
expanse
for
picnics.
• An
imaginative
play
scape,
which
will be
inspired
by a
West
Coast
lifeguard
station
with
areas
for
children
to
climb,
slide
and
jump.
• A
musical
garden
that
will
offer
children
the
opportunity
to learn
in an
interactive
way
about
different
objects
that
make
musical
sounds
and
tones.
•
Ample
seating
areas
around
the play
scape
and
music
gardens
which
will
provide
areas
for
parents
and
caregivers
to keep
an eye
on the
children.
• A
large
shed
structure,
approximately
1,000-square
feet,
with
large,
garage-door
style
openings
designed
to flood
the
space
with
natural
light
and
fresh
air. A
soaring
overhang
and
patio
area
will
provide
visitors
with
shelter
from the
elements.
It will
be used
for a
mixture
of
programming,
special
events,
food and
beverage,
as well
as for
retail.
• A
colorful
and
unique
barge
for food
and
drink,
spanning
two boat
slips in
the
water
and
offering
great
river
views.
It will
feature
multiple
unique
seating
areas,
planters
made of
recycled
antique
truck
tailgates
from
Detroit
automakers
and a
vintage
van that
will
serve
food and
drink.
Construction
is
expected
to begin
immediately
and is
scheduled
to be
completed
in
summer
2019. In
the
coming
months,
crews
will
install
the
foundations
for the
shed and
the
overhang,
as well
as for
the play
scape.
Throughout
the
winter,
the
walls of
the
structures
will be
placed
and
underground
utility
work
completed.
Atwater
Beach
Funding
In
addition
to the
William
Davidson
Foundation,
funders
for the
project
include
the John
S. and
James L.
Knight
Foundation,
which
selected
the
project
as one
its 2017
Knight
Cities
Challenge
winners,
and the
Mona and
Richard
Alonzo
Fund.
The
Conservancy
also
received
a grant
for the
project
from
Gannett/USA
Today
Network
as part
of the
“A
Community
Thrives”
initiative,
which
supports
programs
that
positively
impact
local
communities.
“Our
support
for
Detroit’s
riverfront
began in
2014,”
adds
Darin
McKeever.
“We
believe
the
riverfront
is
distinctive
in its
ability
to bring
people
together
from
diverse
neighborhoods
and
walks of
life and
create
an
enjoyable,
shared
experience.
We’re
also
particularly
pleased
with the
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy’s
leadership,
which
engages
community
members
in its
visioning
and
planning
of
projects.
As a
proud
partner
of the
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy
since
2014, I
encourage
others
to join
us in
supporting
their
ongoing
efforts.”
Atwater
Beach is
located
within
the
rapidly-developing
East
Riverfront
district
and will
be an
exciting
venue
for
people
to meet,
play,
relax
and eat.
In early
2017,
the
Conservancy
released
an East
Riverfront
Framework
Plan to
guide
the
future
of the
district
that
outlines
new
parks
and open
space
developments,
street
improvements,
new and
improved
greenways
to
access
the
riverfront
and
continued
development
projects
that
will
bring
additional
amenities
to the
district.
For more
information
about
the
Atwater
Beach
project,
please
visit
detroitriverfront.org.
# # #
About
the
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy
The
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy
is a
non-profit
organization
founded
in 2003
with the
mission
to
develop
public
access
to
Detroit’s
riverfront
and
serve as
an
anchor
for
economic
development.
As the
permanent
stewards
of the
RiverWalk
and the
Dequindre
Cut, the
Conservancy
is
responsible
for
raising
the
funds
needed
for
construction,
operation,
maintenance,
security
and
programming
of the
public
spaces
located
along
the
riverfront.
The
Conservancy’s
ultimate
vision
is to
develop
five-and-a-half
miles of
riverfront
from the
Ambassador
Bridge
on the
west to
Gabriel
Richard
Park,
just
east of
the
MacArthur
Bridge
to Belle
Isle.
Visit
www.detroitriverfront.org
for more
information.
About
the
William
Davidson
Foundation
The
William
Davidson
Foundation
is a
private,
family
foundation
that
works to
honor
its
founder’s
memory
and
continues
his
lifelong
commitment
to
philanthropy,
advancing
for
future
generations
the
economic,
cultural
and
civic
vitality
of
Southeast
Michigan,
the
State of
Israel,
and the
Jewish
community.
The
Foundation
made its
first
grant to
the
Detroit
Riverfront
Conservancy
for the
East
Riverfront
in 2014.
For more
information,
visit
williamdavidson.org.
Contact:
Marc
Pasco,
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy
(313)
566-8240
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