The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park is a transformative 22-acre development along the Detroit River. Once home to a Detroit Free Press storage facility and a temporary riverwalk this underutilized site has been reimagined as a vibrant regional destination for recreation, education, and community gathering.
MVVA sub consulted with PEA Group to support the park’s development through engineering services, detailed topographic and ALTA surveys, as well as a bathymetric survey of the Detroit Riverbed within the project limits. One of the project’s more complex challenges involved locating and mapping the subsurface railroad tunnel that runs between Detroit and Windsor. With no direct access to the tunnel, PEA Group traced the alignment by locating the above-ground track nearly 3,000 feet from the tunnel entrance. They then reconstructed the horizontal alignment and converted the original vertical datum to recreate the tunnel’s vertical profile.
The park will feature a wide array of attractions, including a 2-acre water garden, amphitheater, sledding hills, landscaped pathways, covered basketball courts, a Great Lakes-themed play garden, active recreation areas, picnic shelters, a children’s water play garden, and a combined park administration and restroom facility. Extensive landscaping and shoreline enhancements support wildlife, promote native vegetation and improve habitat.
PEA Group also designed a custom stormwater conveyance system for the park to treat stormwater runoff onsite and eliminate discharge to the City of Detroit’s sewer system. This sustainable infrastructure not only reduces the load on municipal sewers but is expected to save approximately $60,000 annually in stormwater fees.
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park will bring new vibrancy to a public space already honored as the Best Riverwalk in the United States by USA Today in 2021, 2022, and 2023.