Trenton's Linked Riverfront Parks Project

The City of Trenton is developing a linked riverfront greenway that will extend from Meyer-Ellias Park (located on Helen Street) south to Elizabeth Park. The primary focus will be to link existing parks, including Meyer-Ellias, Rotary, and Elizabeth Parks, with new "pocket parks" created on city property at street ends along the Detroit River. Connections will be established among the existing parks, the new parks, and downtown in an effort to further economic development and enhance community pride.

Following the river wherever possible, the linked greenway will bring more people to the waterfront and provide many benefits, including:

• Enhancing public access to Trenton's waterfront by developing passive public "pocket parks".
• Improving conditions along the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River, in places where shoreline erosion is causing unsafe pedestrian conditions and degrading water quality.
• Restoring aquatic and terrestrial habitat for fish and wildlife along the Detroit River.
• Strengthening community pride and identity among the people of Trenton.
• Promoting a higher quality of life as well as revitalizing economic growth in downtown Trenton.

During 2000, the City of Trenton secured and committed over $1 million for this implementation consistent with its Master Plan. The Clean Michigan Initiative provided $174,000 (Trenton match: $156,000), the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund provided $332,800 (Trenton match: $187,200), the Coastal Zone Management Program provided $35,000 (Trenton match: $35,000), Community Development Block grants provided $68,000, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Great Lakes National Program Office provided $65,000 with a local match of $22,500.

Renderings courtesy of SmithGroup JJR.

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Trenton waterfront in progress

Waterfront before improvements