A reimagined riverfront for Detroit to gather, explore and enjoy.

A rendering of the imagined Detroit east riverfront featuring a rebuilt Renaissance Center and other attractions, with the text "After" in the top corner and "Conceptual Rendering" in the bottom corner.

Aerial photo of the current Detroit east riverfront space before redevelopment, featuring the Renaissance Center in the foreground, and text "Before" in the top corner.

Detroit’s Riverwalk is a place Detroiters are proud of. It brings people together to enjoy the water. The east riverfront will build on that with new places to eat, play, shop, stay, live and enjoy events.

Detroit residents and community groups are helping shape the plan. The goal is to create a riverfront that is easy to visit, welcoming to everyone and proudly Detroit.

Take the survey to tell us what you'd like to see on the east riverfront or visit the east riverfront community hub:

Take the Survey

Community Hub | Detroit East Riverfront
521 Atwater Street, Detroit MI 48226
Wednesday – Friday, 11AM – 6PM
Saturday, 11AM – 4PM

Visit the front desk at the East Riverfront Community Hub to get free parking for up to 2 hours. Parking validation is available during regular business hours.

A more active waterfront.

This east riverfront development will be designed to bring more life and activity to the area by adding:

Dining and other family-friendly destinations
Water-based activities
All-season programming and cold-weather experiences
Entertainment options and attractions
Shopping and neighborhood services

A rendering of the imagined Detroit east riverfront featuring entertainment venues.

The goal is an active waterfront experience that is family friendly, broadly accessible, globally attractive and distinctly Detroit. To achieve this goal, the east riverfront will be built on six guiding principles.

PRINCIPLE #1

Create America’s Premier Broadly Accessible Waterfront Destination.

Built around civic spaces, year-round activation and genuine on-the-water experiences, we will transform the east riverfront into the nation’s most welcoming, accessible, family-friendly destination.

PRINCIPLE #4

Empower Community Voice to Help Deﬁne Civic Space and Activities.

We will leverage a multi-pronged community and stakeholder engagement process to reach as many voices as possible.

PRINCIPLE #2

Build on the Momentum Established by the Riverwalk.

This program is the next step in advancing the award-winning Riverwalk towards the envy of every waterfront city.

PRINCIPLE #5

Support Economic Growth, Housing and Waterfront Activity.

Entertainment, active harbors, housing and hospitality-centric programing will drive tourism, create jobs, attract new residents and keep existing residents.

PRINCIPLE #3

Connect the Renaissance Center and east riverfront to downtown and neighborhoods.

Through removal of physical barriers and a focus on accessibility.

PRINCIPLE #6

Showcase Detroit Globally.

We want to help develop an east riverfront that reﬂects the rich history and vibrancy of Detroit and invites people to experience all the city has to offer.

A reimagined riverfront for Detroit to gather, explore and enjoy.

A more active waterfront.

Connect with us.