2 recent grants support public spaces in Detroit

Two big projects have received a big boost in the past few weeks. The first will help to connect the city via bike, and the second will offer a new place for recreation along the riverfront.

The Inner Circle Greenway, a 26-mile non-motorized loop around the city, recently received a $2 million grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, according to the Detroit News. The City of Detroit says this will go toward design and preconstruction. The city recently acquired an important 7.5 mile stretch of land that will help finish the greenway. When completed, it will go all the way from the Riverfront and the Dequindre Cut, up through Hamtramck, around Highland Park, and down the west side near University of Detroit Mercy, and back to the Riverfront. The project could be finished in late 2019.

The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy recently received a $50,000 grant from Gannett’s Community Thrives program for Atwater Beach, which will connect two parts of the East Riverfront with a beach-like (non-swimming) public space.

Atwater Beach will be located near Chene Park and it will have a cafe, play equipment, and sandy space over 3.2 acres. The DRFC is still fundraising for the project, but they hope to start construction next year.