The South Riverfront Restoration Project in collaboration with the Midland Baseball Foundation, is a two-phase project designed to transform a vacant, blighted industrial site into a vibrant greenway access, reconnecting the community with both downtown Midland and the Tittabawassee River. Additionally, this project serves to create a signature gateway into the City and enhances rural access into the City. By reestablishing the physical and visual connection in this corridor, the opportunity to create a sustainable park, complimented by connections to adjacent wetland restoration sites (Dow Wetland Restoration Site and Towsley Dike Park) and other community amenities, is a reality.
When paired with educational and programming opportunities, fostered by the restoration of the site’s ecological habitat and function, we are reestablishing a community feature connecting unique geologic attributes through place making. Further, with the addition of a pedestrian footpath over the Tittabawassee River, a circular point of reference is created, providing a loop from two distinct and exciting areas within downtown – The Tridge / Farmers Market to the recreational boundary delineated by Dow Diamond and Founders Park.
As a community space, the South Riverfront Restoration restores a riparian ecosystem, creating opportunities for people of all ages to access, view and learn about the natural landscape located downtown. Further, site reclamation will immediately improve the visual appearance of the downtown corridor and riverfront. Through the removal of broken concrete and blighted structure, the goal of restoring the site to its natural purpose of absorbing and filtering flood waters before releasing them back into the river is achieved.
The restoration reactivates a portion of the riverfront currently underutilized due to access limitations and the lack of amenities available. This wetland park creates another point of access and desirability in an area of the community where investment and invigoration is consistently attracting residents and visitors to explore the area. The creation of and connection to walking and biking trails, fishing piers and a kayak / canoe launch, promotes a healthy lifestyle and will attract diverse outdoor enthusiasts as they seek natural connections to the riverfront and its ecosystem.
