| Presentation Abstract
..The Detroit Riverfront Story: Beginning to Grow Once Again
The city of Detroit was founded on the banks of the Detroit River in 1701. Since that time the community grew, from the ribbon farms and forts that first dominated the shoreline to the heavy industry of the 19th and 20th centuries. As industry dried up along the banks, the area fell into disrepair and became littered with abandoned buildings, warehouses and silos.
It was not until 2003, that the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, a non-profit organization, was founded with the mission of bringing public access to Detroit’s Riverfront.
The Conservancy is a public-private partnership – supported by many different entities – from the corporate community, foundations, City, county, state, federal governments to the community at large.
It is through this successful collaboration that 80 percent or nearly three miles of the east Riverfront is complete and open to the community and visitors alike to enjoy today.
The over-arching goal, however, remains in place: To develop five and a half miles of Riverfront - spanning from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard Park, just east of the MacArthur (Belle Isle) Bridge - linked by a RiverWalk, parks, plazas, harbors, pavilions and green spaces.
The Conservancy is responsible for the construction, improvement, operation, maintenance, security, programming and expansion of the Detroit RiverWalk and associated green spaces.
Already, more than two and a half-million people annually enjoy the RiverWalk year round for the concerts, events and activities.
The Conservancy embraces its vision to transform Detroit’s International Riverfront – the face of the City – into a beautiful, exciting, safe, accessible world-class gathering place for all.
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Speaker Biography – Faye Alexander Nelson
Appointed President and CEO of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy in September 2003, Nelson is responsible for overseeing the planning, design, construction, operations and programming of the Detroit International Riverfront, including the RiverWalk and adjacent parks, plazas and pavilions.
Nelson serves on the board of directors for Compuware Corporation, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority, the University of Detroit/Mercy and TechTown. In October 2007, Crain’s Detroit Business named Nelson one of Metro Detroit’s Most Influential Women.
Nelson has a B.A. in Political Science from Mercy College of Detroit and a J.D. from the University of Detroit School of Law.
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