Detroit's urban beach project wins $225,700 in national grant competition

A proposed urban beach project on Detroit's Riverfront has been chosen as a winning idea in a national grant competition.

The Atwater Beach project, pitched by The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, was named a finalist in the Knight Cities Challenge earlier this year and was announced Monday as a winner of a $225,700 grant.

"We're thrilled," said Marc Pasco, spokesman for the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy.

"We're still in process of raising the funds to fulfill this project but the money we're awarded in this grant helps Atwater Beach become a reality."

The beach, which is expected to be ready by 2018, will be located east of Chene Park, on the Detroit River between Atwater Street and Jos Campau.

It will not include swimming, due to strong currents at that location, but the projects still aims to offer the beach experience.

A large portion of it will be sand, beach and umbrella chairs and a barge floating to serve food and drinks. An interactive play station and sensory garden for kids is also included in the plan.

The idea for Atwater Beach was inspired by two urban beaches: Sugar Beach in Toronto and Spruce Street Harbor in Philadelphia.

"We're confident were going to get there and deliver to the people of Detroit," Pasco said.

The conservancy developed the proposal with city planners, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and Groundswell Design Group, which worked on Spruce Street Harbor Park.

Atwater Beach is one of many current projects on the riverfront.

In March, the conservancy announced the riverfront will see 8 acres of new park space, two new pedestrian and bike paths and two Dequindre Cut-like greenways to connect neighborhoods to the riverwalk.

A portion of Jefferson Avenue, between Rivard Street and East Grand Boulevard, is expected to include protected bike lanes, buffers for pedestrians and a reduction of the total number of lanes.

Other Detroit winners of the Knight grant:

  • Better Buildings, Better Blocks
  • Design Center in a Box: A Place for Informed Community Exchange
  • Detroit's Slow Roll
  • Happy 18th Birthday! Local Citizenship Kit

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