Construction is still underway on Detroit’s Dequindre Cut Greenway.  Light posts and emergency call boxes are still being installed.  It appears the trail surface base is ready for paving.  The Antietam bridge has not been completed and it appears to still require considerable work.

Will it be ready for the planned grand opening in August?  We hope so.

It’s getting closer.

The expected completion date for Phase I is this summer. It appear the electrical is currently being installed. There is still a lot of steel beams which may be for the Antietam Bridge replacement. The main trail portion (the east half of the right-of-way) is graded, along with the two vehicle access points at Gratiot and Lafayette.

One clarification should be made. Many, including myself thought the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy was responsible for constructing the Cut. They aren’t. The City of Detroit is with the DEGC managing the project. However, once completed, the Conservancy will handle this trail’s operations, maintenance, and programming.

Phase I of Detroit’s Dequindre Cut continues to make progress. It is expected that paving will begin within the next week or two. One estimate says it will be completed by July.

Phase I runs from Woodbridge, near the river, north to Gratiot. This basically connects the riverfront, Tri-Centennial Park, Lafayette Park, Elmwood, and Eastern Market.

Phase II continues north of Gratiot to Mack. That portion of the rail corridor is still privately owned, though discussions are underway for it’s sale to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

The hope is that eventually future phases will continue further north still and connect with Hamtramck, Highland Park, and more.

Tri-Centennial State Park

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expects Phase II to go to bid in March of 2008. They believe they are still on schedule for a June start. If everything works out and the weather cooperates, there’s a possibility of it being completed this year.

Note that Phase II is from the park’s large grassy mound to Rivard Plaza.

East Riverfront Linear Parks

On October 9th, 2007, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) posted the following update:

The DEGC staff is managing the design process towards the development of new park space that will extend from Jefferson Avenue to Atwater Street along Riopelle Street and the former Dequindre Avenue right of way. These “linear” parks were conceived as part of the East Riverfront District Plan, which are to serve as features that would offer views to the Detroit River, and would encourage non-motorized pathways from the Lafayette Park neighborhood down to the Riverfront Promenade and the Tricentennial State Park. During the next quarter, the DEGC staff will move the design process into further development.

Since that time some underground storage tanks were found and there may be some unforeseen cleanup issues. While the DEGC originally committed to funding that connector, this recent discovery adds some uncertainty.

Gabriel Richard Park

According to this Detroit Free Press article:

The City of Detroit is planning $1.9 million in upgrades to the now vacant Gabriel Richard Park.

City officials told city council today that half of that amount would come from federal government and half from the nonprofit Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. The Economic Development Corporation made the presentation today before council.

The city staff requests that council hold a hearing on April 9.

I’m unclear how the park is vacant. It contains is a beautiful section of the Riverwalk.

More information on Father Gabriel Richard