By Rebecca A. Humphries, Director,
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Nestled along the Detroit River, there is a spot that has a public boat harbor, good walleye and white bass fishing, a walking trail along the river bank and quiet places to sit and reflect or to spend your lunch break.

And it's just steps east of the General Motors building in downtown Detroit.

Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor opened in 2004 as Michigan's first urban state park. This 31-acre park offers shore fishing in the Detroit River, picnic sites and it connects with the Detroit International RiverWalk along the Detroit River.

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and the city of Detroit have been invaluable partners to the Department of Natural Resources, as we work together to improve the city's riverfront area and make it a showcase of Michigan's amazing natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Tri-Centennial is a portal to our state park system. Our long-term plan for this park is to use it to introduce Michigan residents and visitors to the other 97 state parks that dot our state and provide more than $600 million a year in economic stimulus to the state.

Tri-Centennial itself provides an economic stimulus to the riverfront district, as developers often use the park's close proximity to downtown and greenspace as a selling point while planning new residential development near it.

This year, we are getting ready to break ground on the second phase of development at Tri-Centennial State Park. This phase will include a wetlands demonstration project in the area of the park known as the Lowland. This project will show how wetlands act as nature's water filtration system.

Supported by a $1 million grant from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and a matching donation from the Stroh family, we will develop a storm water run-off demonstration project, using the surface water that runs off the ground and other surfaces during a rain event, from a nearby mixed-use development, known as the Atwater Lofts.

After a mechanical system removes any oils and solid debris, the water will be directed to the Lowland area at the park. Interpretive signs will 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.

Coastal wetlands such as this are an important part of the ecosystem of the Detroit River, and provide habitat for many migrating birds and other wildlife. Ninety-seven percent of the coastal wetlands on both sides of the Detroit River have been lost to development, so it is great that we can restore this one in downtown Detroit.

Our plan calls for interpretive areas to be located around and in the Lowland that show the importance of coastal wetlands to wildlife and vegetation in the area.

The RiverWalk will divide into separate bike and pedestrian systems, with the pedestrian segment passing near the Detroit River. The bike path, with financial support from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), will lace through the area on the north side of the wetland. Migratory birds will be attracted to this wetlands area.

Along the RiverWalk, we plan for interpretive stations that explain the importance of shipping and fishing to the Great Lakes area. We are planning additional shoreline fishing locations along this portion of the RiverWalk, which is well known as a very popular fishing area and a hotspot for walleyes and white bass.

All these exciting developments would not be possible without support from several funding sources, including the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, MDOT, DEQ, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan's Greenways Initiative.

The overall cost
for engineering
and development
of this phase of Tri-Centennial is about $5.3 million. We are actively seeking private sector partnerships to enhance some of the interpretive elements of the park. These elements include:

• (B) - A wetland "flora, bugs and stuff" interpretive unit focusing on plants and animals that call a wetland home;
• (C) - A migratory bird and wetland interpretive unit and overlook;
• (D) - An urban wildlife unit, highlighting the animals found in urban areas;
• (E) - An energy plaza that will focus on Michigan's potential for alternative energy, such as solar, water or wind;
• A Great Lakes boating/shipping and river fisheries interpretive area along the river's edge. The Atwater Lofts (F) are located outside the park.

The Stroh family is the first to contribute toward these enhancements, with plans for a quiet, contemplative space featuring a memorial to Peter Stroh (A), a noted conservationist.

Corporations, organizations or individuals interested in helping to underwrite these interpretive elements should contact Vicki Anthes in the DNR's Parks and Recreation Division at (517) 335-7890.

We anticipate having the second phase of Tri-Centennial open to the public by early summer of 2009, and we welcome you and your family to visit.