Found 12 blog entries tagged as detroit riverfront.

Metro Detroit's new and renovated playgrounds have given families a real reason to rethink the weekend rotation. Across Detroit and its surrounding counties, brand-new play gardens, inclusive playscapes, and refreshed neighborhood parks have opened with modern equipment designed for every age and ability. The common thread in this latest wave is thoughtful design: poured rubberized surfaces, fenced layouts, sensory features, and zones that keep toddlers and tweens happy in the same visit.

Inclusive design is the headline. A growing share of these spaces are built so children who use wheelchairs or walkers can play right alongside everyone else, and that shift is visible from Southfield to Shelby Township. With more than 1.3 million households across…

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**Updated March 6, 2026

313 Day is Detroit's unofficial annual holiday celebrated every March 13. The date mirrors the city's 313 area code, the original telephone area code assigned to Detroit in 1947 and one of the most recognizable cultural identifiers in the city's history.

The grassroots celebration grew steadily over the years, driven by local businesses, community organizations, and Detroiters eager to claim a day that belongs entirely to the city. In 2023, the Detroit City Council made it official, formally recognizing March 13 as 313 Day.

In 2026, 313 Day falls on a Friday, which means the energy carries well into the evening. That timing, combined with a loaded lineup of confirmed events, makes this year's edition one of the most…

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Detroit's riverfront is about to get its most significant hospitality addition in decades, and it is not just another hotel. The JW Marriott Detroit Water Square is a 600-room, 25-story luxury convention hotel rising on the former Joe Louis Arena site, and it represents a nearly $400 million bet on the city's future as a national destination for major events and conventions.

The building itself, located at 100 Steve Yzerman Drive (West Atwater Street), could be structurally complete as early as December 2025, according to Scott Stinebaugh, director of sales and marketing for the property, who recently provided a tour of the project. The hotel will begin accepting guests in the first quarter of 2027.

For Metro Detroit residents, this is not just a…

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Belle Isle Conservancy launched a new brand identity in January 2026 positioning the 982-acre island park as "Detroit's Backyard" rather than just a park. The rebrand includes a redesigned website with visitor planning tools, new visual identity centered on people rather than buildings, curated Spotify playlists featuring Detroit artists, and a "Detroit Joy" theme celebrating the emotional connection Detroiters have with the island.

City of Detroit Government, Facebook

What Exactly Changed with Belle Isle's Rebrand?

Belle Isle didn't change locations or add new attractions, but the way the Conservancy presents and positions Detroit's most visited park shifted dramatically in January 2026.

The rebrand centers on three major updates: a complete…

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Detroit winters have a way of bringing our community together in the most unique ways. Instead of hibernating, we head outdoors, and nowhere is that more evident than at Robert C. Valade Park on the riverfront during the Winter at Valade series. One weekend in particular is lighting up the season: the Fire and Ice Festival. As a lifelong Detroiter (and a local real estate nerd who’s spent plenty of cold seasons here), I’m excited to share everything you need to know about this fiery winter celebration. We’ll cover when and where it’s happening, how to get there and park, what cool (and hot!) attractions to expect, plus some insider tips to make the most of your visit. Let’s dive into this guide so you’re fully prepared for a magical winter weekend on the…

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2025 proved to be a milestone year in Detroit’s ongoing resurgence. The city celebrated long-awaited downtown developments, infrastructure investments, and historic leadership changes that signaled a new era for Metro Detroit. From the opening of transformative projects like the Hudson’s site and a 22-acre riverfront park to policy wins accelerating affordable housing and transit access, each story showcased Detroit’s momentum. Locals felt a renewed energy as cultural traditions returned, national spotlights landed on the city, and institutions like the University of Michigan deepened their Detroit roots, all building confidence in Detroit’s vibrant future.

Hudson's Detroit, Facebook

1. Hudson’s Site Comes Alive Downtown

After years of…

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Detroit’s ongoing renaissance isn’t stopping at downtown. A major new infusion of funding is set to supercharge the city’s neighborhoods, public spaces and local economy. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced nearly $20 million in grants to 12 projects across the city, a multi-year investment aimed at linking communities, elevating the arts, and expanding opportunities in tech and entrepreneurship. It’s a vote of confidence in the creativity and resilience Detroiters have always shown, and it promises to transform everyday experiences from biking trails to business opportunities.

“Detroit has always been a city of resilience and reinvention,” says Knight Foundation President and CEO Maribel Pérez Wadsworth. She explains that the…

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A sweeping $125 million expansion of Detroit’s marquee convention center, Huntington Place (formerly known to longtime locals as Cobo Center), is about to get underway, and it promises to transform downtown in a big way. In the coming weeks, construction crews will break ground on a project that will connect the riverfront convention hall to a brand-new luxury hotel and finally open up pedestrian access between downtown and the Detroit RiverWalk. This long-anticipated upgrade is big news for Metro Detroiters, and it’s generating buzz about what it means for local real estate, businesses, and the city’s ability to host world-class events.

In a nutshell: Huntington Place will gain a 20,000-square-foot addition at its southwest corner plus a…

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The spot where Detroiters once cheered on the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena is buzzing again, this time with construction cranes and a bold vision for the city’s future. The former Joe Louis Arena site on downtown Detroit’s west riverfront is being reborn as “Water Square,” a new mixed-use development that’s bringing luxury apartments, a high-end hotel, and a revitalized public transit hub to the banks of the Detroit River. In the process, it’s also creating a much-needed pedestrian-friendly corridor reconnecting downtown to the award-winning Detroit Riverwalk. The transformation promises to make this corner of the city a vibrant destination for residents and visitors alike, blending Detroit’s rich history with its forward-looking renaissance.

The…

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Detroit’s iconic Renaissance Center (RenCen) is facing a turning point. General Motors has announced plans to relocate its headquarters from the RenCen to the new Hudson’s Site development in 2025, leaving much of the complex empty​. Once GM departs, the seven-tower complex – long a fixture of the city skyline – will be largely vacant​. This moment, while bittersweet, opens the door for exciting changes. What does life after GM look like around the RenCen? In many ways, the area’s vibrancy is poised to continue, fueled by beloved local businesses, new attractions, and ambitious redevelopment plans that have Detroiters cautiously optimistic about the future.

GM Ren Cen, Facebook

GM’s Departure and the RenCen’s Next Act

GM’s exit from the RenCen…

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