Community-Driven Designs Proposed for Detroit's West Riverfront Park

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy (DRFC) is currently engaged in a planning process to add numerous parks and public spaces along the city's waterfront. Four competing firms have presented their plans for the West Riverfront Park. Ella Thorns writes, "The development of the 22-acre West Riverfront Park is expected to cost around $50 million to complete the DRFC's ultimate vision for 5.5 miles of revitalized riverfront."

"The four principal firms include Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (GGN), Hood Design Studio (HDS), James Corner Field Operations and Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates (MVVA) collaborating with numerous Detroit and Michigan-based firms."

DRFC has taken steps to engage with the public as the design competition proceeds. The concepts incorporate input from a community advisory team of Detroit residents who visited similar parks in other cities. "There has been a further effort to involve the people of Detroit by organizing a public design exhibition to interact with the design concepts and once the winning proposal is selected there will be further opportunities for the community to view the rendering and models shape the final design."