DETROIT – A major piece of Detroit’s Riverfront transformation is nearly complete.
The new Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park is expected to become one of the city’s signature destinations, connecting neighborhoods, families, and visitors to the water in a whole new way.
Local 4 got a behind-the-scenes first look at the 22-acre park, years in the making since its initial vision in 2017.
The park offers gorgeous views of the Detroit River, framed by the Ambassador and Gordie Howe bridges.
Two women who have overseen the park’s construction nearly every day, Rhonda Collins and Karen Slaughter Duperry, walked through the park’s four main areas.
The William Davidson Sport House is a giant covered pavilion with full-sized basketball courts that can be used year-round.
Next to it is a large grassy area designed for picnics, concerts, and outdoor movie nights, so people would just bring blankets and sit on the hill.
“As a matter of fact, the Jacksons are coming here on Oct. 25-26, so you can have that kind of concert and we’ll have gospel on Sunday,” said Slaughter Duperry. “In winter, the grassy hill becomes a sledding hill, and the Sport House may host igloos.”
The Water Garden, carved out from what used to be a parking lot, pumps water from the Detroit River into a pond for nature-based educational programming and beautiful views.
The Delta Dental Play Garden is a children’s playground featuring slides imported from Denmark, including a tandem slide for adults and kids, and a smaller area for little children.
“This is the Henry Ford Tot Lot. We’ve got a small miniature version of Fort Wayne and some animals designed by local elementary students—a bird, a fox, and a bass,” said Collins.
An interactive water-play area is set to open in spring 2026.
For both women, the project represents more than a park—it symbolizes pride, progress, and Detroit’s renewal.
“To be a native Detroiter, went to all Detroit public schools, went to Cass for architecture, and then to U of M for my master’s degree in architecture, and then to be asked to work on a project that’s going to change my own city—it’s definitely very rewarding,” Slaughter Duperry said.
Collins added, “It is just surreal to be in this place right now where we are complete, we are finished. I would say that I’m proud of this park. I’m happy to see it. I’m really hoping that Detroiters love it. That’s when they come here, they sense community, that they see nature’s beauty, and that they have fun times with their family.”
The official opening date is this weekend, Oct. 25 and 26.
On Friday (Oct. 24) on Local 4 starting at 5 a.m., viewers can get a live sneak peek inside all four zones of excitement and the fall festivities of the Detroit Harvest Fest.
Be part of history and see the Detroit Riverfront like never before!