{"id":48720,"date":"2022-08-11T11:21:18","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T15:21:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/?p=48720"},"modified":"2022-08-12T14:04:52","modified_gmt":"2022-08-12T18:04:52","slug":"discovering-metropolitan-detroits-wild-side-through-the-great-lakes-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/2022\/08\/11\/discovering-metropolitan-detroits-wild-side-through-the-great-lakes-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering Metropolitan Detroit\u2019s Wild Side Through The Great Lakes Way"},"content":{"rendered":"
The vision is that all residents and visitors of southeast Michigan \u2014 people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities, and interests \u2014 are connected to these water resources, feel welcome on its trails, and share in the benefits and opportunities offered by access to water.<\/blockquote><\/figure>\n

The portion of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem stretching from southern Lake Huron through western Lake Erie is a unique urban refugium where the tapestry of life has been woven with elegance, where the music of life has been rehearsed to perfection for thousands of years, where nature\u2019s colors are most vibrant and engaging, where time is measured in seasons, and where outdoor recreation takes center stage. This region, better known as Metropolitan Detroit, is where the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and many partners are knitting together 160 miles of greenways and 156 miles of water trails to become The Great Lakes Way<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Great Lakes Way Vision Map. Credit: Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Metropolitan Detroit is situated in the heart of the Great Lakes which represent one-fifth of the standing freshwater on the Earth\u2019s surface. This Great Lakes Way is unique for its continentally significant natural resources and history, including Native American, Underground Railroad, shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing, Arsenal of Democracy, and more. Along The Great Lakes Way, you will find one of the largest freshwater deltas in the world \u2013 the St. Clair Flats, a Wetland of International Importance designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, four Important Bird Areas designated by the National Audubon Society, the only international heritage river system in the world \u2013 the Detroit River, the only international wildlife refuge<\/a> in North America, a Regional Shorebird Reserve designated under the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network, one of the three best places of watch hawk migrations in the United States, one of the top ten metropolitan areas for waterfowl hunting in the United States identified by Ducks Unlimited, and an internationally renowned sport fishery that attracts tournaments offering $500,000-$1.5 million in prize money. The Great Lakes Way traverses along or through 30 different federal lands, including a national park, 15 state parks or state game\/wildlife areas, two metro parks, and 90 county and city parks. Together, these natural resources and recreational, historical, and cultural amenities provide a compelling outdoor experience for nearly seven million people living in the watershed and millions more annual visitors, an urban experience that is truly unique.<\/p>\n

Building on the foundation of the GreenWays Initiative<\/strong><\/p>\n

For too long, many cities in Metropolitan Detroit could not make the match requirements on federal and state greenways grants. These communities simply did not have the discretionary funds, or parks and outdoor recreation did not rank high enough to get the necessary municipal funding to make the match on greenway grants. The solution was for the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to raise this money from the private and foundation sectors so that more greenway trails could be constructed, and subsequently realize their many benefits. In 2001, the Community Foundation raised $25 million to create its GreenWays Initiative \u2013 the first of its kind in the nation \u2013 to help make match requirements on greenway grants. Over time, this initiative grew to $35 million and leveraged $150 million to build more than 100 miles of greenway trails. Standing on the shoulders of its GreenWays Initiative, the Community Foundation is now championing The Great Lakes Way.<\/p>\n

Status of The Great Lakes Way<\/strong><\/p>\n

The vision is that all residents and visitors of southeast Michigan \u2013 people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities, and interests \u2013 are connected to these water resources, feel welcome on its trails, and share in the benefits and opportunities offered by access to water. All the water trails or blueways are complete and available for use. Preliminary mapping of greenways found that 64% are completed or partially complete, 25% are planned, and 11% remain to be completed. Through this initiative, the Community Foundation will be amplifying the important work of local trail organizations so that they don\u2019t lose their identity and will be ensuring that they benefit from being part of a larger trail system. The Great Lakes Way will build on existing assets and programs, ensure broad equity, and put the Great Lakes Way into the consciousness of residents and visitors to the region.<\/p>\n

No. 1 Riverwalk in the United States<\/strong><\/p>\n

As recently as the early-2000s, a considerable portion of Detroit\u2019s waterfront land between the MacArthur Bridge to the island park called Belle Isle and the Ambassador Bridge to Canada was either abandoned buildings, underutilized street parking lots, material storage piles, or cement silos that prohibited access to the Detroit River. For over a century, city planners identified the highest and best use of this land to be \u201cindustrial\u201d because of obvious revenue returns. Detroit was an industrial town, and it had a working riverfront that supported industry and commerce.<\/p>\n

However, times had changed. There were fewer people and industries, and much underutilized and undervalued riverfront land. Detroiters had long lost their connection to the Detroit River, and they wanted to improve public access to it and redevelop it in a fashion that would improve quality of life, catalyze economic development, and help change the perception of Detroit from that of a Rust Belt city to one that is actively engaged in sustainable redevelopment.<\/p>\n

Out of this growing public interest to reconnect to the Detroit River, the ecological recovery of the Detroit River, and strong public and private support to revitalize Detroit, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy<\/a> was created in 2003 to transform Detroit\u2019s international riverfront \u2013 the face of the city \u2013 into a beautiful, exciting, safe, accessible world-class gathering place for all. Nearly three million annual visitors are already using it and, in each of the last two years, the Detroit RiverWalk was named the No. 1 riverwalk<\/a> in the United States by USA Today. In many respects, the Detroit RiverWalk is a model for The Great Lakes Way.<\/p>\n

Benefits <\/strong><\/p>\n

By any measure, the benefits of The Great Lakes way are impressive. Benefits include:<\/p>\n