Riverside Park is most famous for its recent role in a tug of war between the Detroit International Bridge Company and the city/community. The park's problems are due to its location - bordering the property that the Ambassador Bridge sits on.
The park itself, like most properties owned/managed by the City of Detroit has been poorly maintained and fallen into disrepair. I passed some shady characters hanging out on the steps of an abandoned building near the end of Grand Boulevard, and there were even more shady characters hanging out in the parking lot and the fringes of the park.
But, while the park's location has made it vulnerable, it is also its greatest strength. There is a sidewalk trail leading from the parking lot to the bank of the Detroit River. And, sitting on a bench, with the Ambassador Bridge directly to your left and the Port Area directly to your right, looking across the narrowest point on the river, is a pretty cool experience.
Unfortunately, when I went today, it was cold, windy, and foggy, and the river was full of ice. But, I will go back again when it is warmer, despite the fact that the park is in need of some rehab, and even someone comfortable in sketchy urban environments felt a bit uneasy at times. read more