A $100 million series of
grants from the Ralph C. Wilson
Jr. Foundation, endowed by the
former owner of the NFL's
Buffalo Bills, will help develop
the 22-acres West Riverfront
park and trail network
connecting to downtown and
southwest Detroit. (Photo:
Michael Van Valkenburgh
Associates)
A $100
million
series
of
grants
from the
Ralph C.
Wilson
Jr.
Foundation,
endowed
by the
former
owner of
the
NFL's
Buffalo
Bills,
will
help
develop
the
22-acres
West
Riverfront
park and
trail
network
connecting
to
downtown
and
southwest
Detroit.
(Photo:
Michael
Van
Valkenburgh
Associates)
Wilson
Foundation
helping
remake
W.
Riverfront
Park in
Detroit
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Foundation
announces
$200M
investment
in parks
and
trails
Trustees
honor
the
100th
birthday
of Ralph
C.
Wilson,
Jr. with
landmark
gift to
each of
his
beloved
communities,
Southeast
Michigan
and
Western
New York
DETROIT
– The
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Foundation
today
announced
a $200
million
investment
in parks
and
trails
in
Southeast
Michigan
and
Western
New
York.
The gift
honors
the
Foundation’s
namesake,
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr, on
the
100th
anniversary
of his
birth
and
celebrates
his
legacy
in the
communities
he was
most
devoted
to. The
funds
will be
split
evenly,
dedicating
$100
million
to each
region
to help
develop
signature
legacy
parks,
advance
the
vision
of
completed
regional
trail
systems,
and
support
the
sustainability
of these
public
spaces.
“We
are
proud
and
honored
to
celebrate
Ralph’s
birthday
today
with a
lasting
gift
that
matches
in scale
the
passion
and
pride he
had for
his
hometown
of
Detroit
and
‘adopted’
hometown
of
Buffalo,
where he
founded
and
owned
the
Buffalo
Bills,”
said
Mary
Wilson,
widow of
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr. and
life
trustee,
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Foundation.
“Ralph
was
committed
to
exercise,
staying
active
and
enjoying
life. It
would
make
Ralph so
happy to
see
people
of all
ages
enjoying
these
enhanced
parks
and
trails
for
years to
come.”
“Parks
and
trails
have an
incredible
impact
on
communities
-
inviting
usage
from all
ages,
neighborhoods
and
people –
promoting
inclusiveness
and
breaking
down
barriers.
They not
only
connect
people
to each
other,
but to
other
destinations
and
assets
across a
region,”
said
Jeffrey
Littmann,
life
trustee
and
board
chair,
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Foundation.
“These
projects
also
take
collaboration
from all
levels
of
community
to be
realized.
It’s
this
teamwork
and hard
work
that
Ralph
valued
so
much.”
“Through
the
years,
there
have
been
many
organizations
and
funders
who’ve
worked
hard to
develop
these
parks,
trails
and
waterfronts
in both
Southeast
Michigan
and
Western
New
York.
We’re
honored
to join
with
them in
the
continuation
and
acceleration
of that
work,”
said
David
Egner,
president
and CEO,
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Foundation.
“The
signature
parks
mirror
each
other in
many
ways,
with
both
situated
at the
‘front
door’ to
each
city and
region
along an
urban
waterfront
and
international
border.
Each
park
also
serves
as an
anchor
to a
larger,
more
robust
and
burgeoning
regional
greenway
system,
connecting
to other
parks
and
neighborhoods,
encouraging
access
for
all.”
The
signature
parks
will be
created
at both
West
Riverfront
Park in
the City
of
Detroit
and
LaSalle
Park in
the City
of
Buffalo.
Each
will be
renamed
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Centennial
Park.
For both
locations,
the
Foundation
is
committing
$40
million
for
construction
activity
and $10
million
to
support
the
broader
efforts
for
long-term
sustainability.
In
addition,
to help
achieve
the
vision
of a
completed
and
connected
regional
trail
system
in both
communities,
the
Foundation
will
invest
$50
million
in
trails
in each
of
Southeast
Michigan
and
Western
New
York.
For
each,
$40
million
will be
allocated
toward
yet-to-be
determined
projects
that
close
physical
gaps in
each
region’s
trail
systems
and $10
million
will be
designated
toward
helping
operate
and
maintain
the
trails
for
decades
to come.
“The
commitment
that the
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Foundation
is
making
to the
city of
Detroit
and
Southeast
Michigan
is
profound
and
marks
another
step
forward
for the
region,”
Gov.
Rick
Snyder
said.
“Our
state is
known
for
incredible
natural
resources
and this
generous
investment
will
have a
lasting
and
positive
impact
for all
those
who call
Southeast
Michigan
home or
want to
spend
the
weekend
experiencing
its
reinvention.”
“Ralph
Wilson
is an
iconic
part of
the
history
of
Buffalo
and
Western
New
York,
and we
are
fortunate
that his
spirit
lives on
through
generous
philanthropic
efforts,”
said
Lieutenant
Governor
Kathy
Hochul.
“When
I’m in
Buffalo,
a bike
ride
through
LaSalle
Park is
part of
my
regular
routine.
This
park has
amazing
potential.
LaSalle
Park is
a place
where
families
from
around
the
world
gather
to enjoy
the
waterfront,
play
sports,
and
enjoy
camaraderie.
In
celebrating
the
legacy
of Ralph
Wilson,
we are
grateful
to the
Foundation’s
commitment
towards
LaSalle
Park and
our
parks
and
trail
systems
within
the
region.”
In
Detroit,
the
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Centennial
Park
will be
at the
current
site of
West
Riverfront
Park, a
22-acre
site
along
the
Detroit
Riverfront.
The new
park is
part of
the
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy’s
overall
vision
to
develop
five-and-a-half
miles of
riverfront
from the
Ambassador
Bridge
on the
west to
Gabriel
Richard
Park,
just
east of
the
MacArthur
Bridge
to Belle
Isle.
"With
this
incredibly
generous
gift,
the
Wilson
Foundation
will
help us
create a
spectacular
riverfront
park and
recreational
opportunity
that
will be
enjoyed
by
Detroiters
for the
next 100
years,"
said
Mayor
Mike
Duggan.
"Equally
important
is
making
sure
that
residents
in our
neighborhoods
have
easier
access
to their
city's
riverfront
through
projects
like the
Joe
Louis
Greenway.
The
Wilson
Foundation
was an
early
supporter
of this
effort
and we
are
thrilled
that the
other
half of
the
foundation's
gift
will go
toward
filling
gaps in
regional
trails
connecting
the city
and
region."
In 2017,
the
Foundation
provided
support
to the
Detroit
Riverfront
Conservancy
to lead
a
community-driven
international
design
competition
for the
West
Riverfront.
The
Conservancy
has held
more
than 20
public
meetings
and
created
a
Community
Advisory
Team of
Detroiters
who
visited
New
York,
Chicago
and
Philadelphia
to bring
back
ideas
for the
future
park.
As a
result
of the
international
design
competition,
Michael
Van
Valkenburgh
Associates
(MVVA),
a New
York-based
landscape
architecture
firm,
was
selected
as the
winning
firm of
the
competition.
“This
generous
gift
honoring
the
legacy
of Ralph
C.
Wilson,
Jr. is
recognition
of the
Conservancy’s
success
in
transforming
the
riverfront
into a
gathering
place
for all.
This
work is
possible
through
the
involvement
of our
community
and our
funders.
The
creation
of this
new park
will be
one of
the most
significant
public
space
projects
undertaken
in our
city’s
history,
and it
will
provide
tremendous
benefits
to youth
and
families
in our
community—and
throughout
the
region—for
generations
to
come,”
said
Matt
Cullen,
Chairman,
Detroit
RiverFront
Conservancy.
In
Western
New
York,
the
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Centennial
Park
will be
located
at the
current
site of
LaSalle
Park,
the City
of
Buffalo’s
largest
waterfront
park.
For
years,
the City
of
Buffalo
and the
community
have
envisioned
something
more for
LaSalle
Park,
and
earlier
this
year the
Foundation
provided
a grant
to
support
a
community
engagement
process
to
further
the
vision
for the
park.
The
planning
grant
has
allowed
for
greater
community
conversation
around
what an
enhanced
LaSalle
Park
experience
could
look
like, if
and when
renovation
funds
were to
become
available.
This
community
engagement
process
has been
led by
the City
of
Buffalo
and the
University
at
Buffalo
Regional
Institute.
The
partners
have
helped
to
ensure
the
effort
is
comprehensive,
sincere,
inspirational
and
above
all,
inclusive.
“Ralph
Wilson
was one
of our
city’s
greatest
champions.
His
vision
illuminated
our
landscape
and his
humanity
enriched
our
community.
Today
Mr.
Wilson’s
commitment
to the
City of
Buffalo
lives on
through
the
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Foundation.
We are
extremely
grateful
for this
generous
donation
that
will
enhance
the
quality
of life
for
generations
of
Buffalo
residents
as they
enjoy
expanded,
inclusive
access
to our
city's
waterfront
and
everything
that
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Centennial
Park has
to
offer,”
said
Mayor
Byron W.
Brown.
“Parks
and
trails
have an
amazing,
unparalleled
power to
rejuvenate
communities,
and I
thank
the
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Foundation
for
their
extraordinary
gift in
further
enhancing
these
parks
and
public
spaces,”
said New
York
State
Parks
Commissioner
Rose
Harvey.
To
prepare
for this
landmark
$200
million
gift,
the
Foundation
hired
James
(J.J.)
Tighe as
director
of parks
and
trails
in 2017.
Since
his
hiring,
Tighe
has been
working
diligently
to
assess
the
opportunities
across
both
regions
and work
closely
with
local,
regional
and
state
partners.
The data
he
captured
has
helped
the
Foundation
make
informed
decisions
regarding
these
projects,
and
others.
Prior to
today’s
announcement,
the
Foundation
had
invested
a total
of $25
million
in parks
and
trails
across
both
regions.
The
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Foundation,
which
has been
up and
running
since
2015,
focuses
its
giving
in four
key
areas:
children
and
youth;
young
adults
and
working
class
families;
caregivers;
and
livable
communities.
While
the
investment
announced
today
fits
within
the
livable
communities
focus
area,
which
seeks to
contribute
to
strong
and
sustainable
communities,
the
impact
of this
investment
overlaps
with –
and will
continue
to work
with –
the
Foundation’s
additional
focus
areas.
For more
information
on Ralph
C.
Wilson,
Jr.’s
legacy
and the
investment,
visit
WWW.RW100.org.