The Department of Natural Resources announced today that Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor in downtown Detroit will be renamed the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor in honor of Michigan's 44th Governor. A dedication and renaming ceremony will take place at the park at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.

"It is a true honor to rename this park for former Governor Milliken, who championed, among many things, environmental protection, urban policy, civil rights policy and education reform," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. "It has long been the goal of this department to name a park after him, and this park represents many of the ideals he worked for as governor."

At the Oct. 22 event, the DNR will dedicate the state park's nearly complete second phase that includes a wetlands complex and the Peter Stroh Memorial. The Peter Stroh family generously donated $333,330 to match a $1 million grant to the park to help construct the second phase. The wetlands complex will serve to demonstrate the importance of wetlands to water quality in Michigan.

The William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, seen as a portal for the state park system and tourism opportunities in Michigan, is located in the heart of downtown Detroit along the riverfront. It is 31 acres in size, located on a reclaimed brownfield that had been impacted by 300 years of industrial use. The public harbor site has 52 slips for transient and seasonal boaters. The park contains two picnic pavilions, an historic dry dock area, a wetlands complex, fishing on the Detroit River, and bicycle and pedestrian trails that connect to the Detroit RiverWalk. The park will soon include a trailhead for the Dequindre Cut Trail Greenway to connect the riverfront to Eastern Market.

Milliken, 87, is the longest-serving Governor in Michigan history. A Traverse City native, he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1965, serving in that role until then Governor George Romney left to assume a post in the administration of President Richard Nixon. Milliken then assumed the office of Governor, and was subsequently elected to serve full terms in 1970, 1974 and 1978. In 1982, he led the formation of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, which works to ensure the Great Lakes region is both economically sound and environmentally conscious. As Governor, Milliken was known as an astute dealmaker, who could form political coalitions ranging from Detroit Mayor Coleman Young to rural conservative Republicans. He compiled a record of accomplishments in education reform, environmental protection, civil rights and urban policy.