East Riverfront

This beloved Detroit park is located just east of the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy has enhanced the area with a plaza and a pavilion located along the river's edge.

Located at the eastern-most point of the RiverWalk, this riverfront gem is a beautiful and serene oasis that features lush landscaping, a whimsical fountain, butterfly gardens, a contemplative labyrinth and fishing outlooks.

New enhancements to Gabriel Richard Park unveiled in 2015 include an environmentally-friendly parking lot and pathways to better link the park with Jefferson Avenue, lighting the labyrinth and new restroom facilities. Additionally, a new birding station features four wildlife-spotting scopes (two of which are universally-accessible) and an interpretive panel identifying various birds that can be found along the riverfront.

The site of the former Uniroyal factory is located along the East Riverfront, directly west of the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle Bridge. This site officially opened to the public in the fall of 2023.

This section of the Riverwalk connects Gabriel Richard Park to Mt. Elliott Park and completes the 3.5 mile vision for the East Riverfront.

Now open to the public, the completely renovated Mt. Elliott Park & Pavilion features a Great Lakes schooner-themed water feature with water cascades and “kid activated” water cannons, wind chimes and many other interactive features. The park is beautifully landscaped, complete with fishing piers, winding walkways, LED lighting, restrooms and a café. It is located at 110 Mt. Elliott in Detroit at the foot of Mt. Elliott and Wight Streets.

All improvements at Mt. Elliott Park have been designed to be universally accessible to those of all ages and physical challenges and the design features have been crafted to be responsive to the nature of the site and authentic to its heritage. The water features in the park were designed in collaboration with Water Odyssey, an international designer of fountains and water parks.

The Gilbert Family Schooner Splash Pad and Mt. Elliott Café are now closed for the season.

Aretha Franklin Amphitheater is a City of Detroit entertainment venue formerly named Chene Park. This unique 6,000-seat amphitheater, located on the shores of the Detroit River, brings thousands of visitors to the waterfront during the warm weather months and is the destination of choice for legendary artists and high profile, big name entertainers.

For more information on Chene Park, including the concert and performance schedule, please visit: www.theAretha.com

As the first urban state park in Michigan, William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor provides a 31-acre green oasis in the midst of downtown Detroit.

The first phase of the park - the harbor - opened to the public in 2004 and offers several covered picnic areas, shoreline fishing and a 52-slip harbor. A 63-foot light tower that is a scaled down replica of the Tawas Point lighthouse marks the harbor entrance.

The second phase of the park opened on December 1, 2009 and includes a wetlands demonstration area that shows how wetlands act as nature's water filtration system. Interpretative signs explain how the wetland naturally cleans the water and then returns it to the Detroit River as clean water - without going to a wastewater treatment plant.

The Riverwalk passes through the park in the area closest to the Detroit River, along with fishing platforms and a memorial to Peter Stroh, a noted conservationist who was a tireless advocate for opening Detroit's waterfront to the public.  A bike path laces through the other side of the wetland, linking the park to Atwater Street or back to Cullen Plaza.

To contact William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, please call (313) 396-0217 . For more information, please visit the DNR William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor website.

Cullen Plaza is home to many of the east riverfront’s most popular highlights, including the lovely Cullen Family Carousel, an in-laid granite map of the Detroit River, a standing glass sculptured map of the St. Lawrence Seaway, a children’s playscape, playful fountains and lush landscaping.

Also located at Cullen Plaza are the tantalizing creations of the Cullen Café and Tiki Bar and Wheelhouse Detroit, a bike shop offering bike rentals, tours, retail, and service.

The popular Diamond Jack's River Tours, which provides public tours and private charters of the Detroit River, docks at Cullen Plaza.

The Conservancy's commemorative bricks and pavers are located at Cullen Plaza, as well as Gabriel Richard Park Plaza.

The pavilion building at Cullen Plaza houses public facilities as well as the Conservancy's operations offices and the security command center.

The Cullen Family Carousel, Cullen Café & Tiki Bar are closed for the season.

The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority (DWCPA) was created in 1978 as a transit and transportation agency, seeking to foster commerce and recreation by facilitating growth at the Port of Detroit and throughout Southeast Michigan. 

The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority (DWCPA), in conjunction with the City of Detroit and MDOT, and through the leadership of Senator Carl M. Levin, opened a 21,000-square-foot public dock and terminal on the riverfront in 2011.  In 2013, the facility was named the Carl M. Levin Building in honor of the Senator’s efforts to transform the Detroit riverfront.

The facility accommodates all types of vessels wishing to call on the City of Detroit including, cruise ships, ferries, water taxis, tall ships, dinner boats, and naval frigates.

Interior space is spread over two floors and includes processing areas for visitors, passengers and/or tourists, ticketing counters and public plaza space.

In 2014, the Port Authority expects to welcome more than 500 passengers to its facility during the cruise season.

For generations, Hart Plaza has been a long-time city riverfront destination and venue for summer festivals, concerts and special events. The 14-acre plaza, which is named for the late U.S. Senator Philip Hart and is located immediately south of the intersection of Woodward and Jefferson Avenues, opened in 1975 and has a capacity of 40,000 people. At the center of the plaza is the famed Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain, designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1978.

Hart Plaza is operated by the City of Detroit. For information on events and permits for Hart Plaza, please visit the City of Detroit's Parks and Recreation Department here.