A groundbreaking ceremony for Atwater Beach on Detroit's east waterfront is just one of many ongoing construction projects that will add open space and recreation facilities to formerly industrial areas.
"The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy broke ground Monday afternoon on Atwater Beach, the latest addition to the city's waterfront attractions," reports John Gallagher.
Atwater beach will include a sandy beach, play areas, and food and drink retail, including a floating "café barge" serving food and drinks.
"The 3.2-acre site of Atwater Beach was once occupied by a cement company and most recently was used by authorities to store marine buoys," according to Gallagher, who then puts the changes at Atwater Beach in context of the larger evolution of Detroit's waterfront from it's industrial past to a recreational future. "Besides Atwater Beach, other projects in the works include the 22-acre west riverfront park that is currently being planned and an extension of the RiverWalk across the former industrial zone known as the Uniroyal site adjacent to the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle," according to Gallagher.
Read the full story: Atwater Beach groundbreaking signals next big thing for Detroit riverfront
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