For nearly two decades, a familiar ritual has unfolded along Detroit’s riverfront.
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning during the summer months, hundreds of people gather on the Riverwalk at Cullen Plaza. At first glance, it looks like a walking group. In reality, Riverwalkers has become something much larger.
Launched by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy in 2008 to encourage physical activity among older adults, the free bi-weekly program has grown into one of the Conservancy’s longest-running and most enduring community initiatives. More than 1,500 people have registered this season alone, but the program’s impact extends well beyond the number of miles participants log each week.
Some have found exercise. Others have found friendships. Many have found a place where they feel they belong.
“I think location is a big part of it,” says Renee Rodriguez, program manager for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. “It’s hard to beat walking along the Detroit River. But beyond that, it’s really become about the social connections people have built over the years.”
RIVERWALKERS
The evolution of Riverwalkers mirrors the evolution of the riverfront itself.
When Riverwalkers first launched, large portions of today’s riverfront had yet to be developed. Destinations like Robert C. Valade Park, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park and the Uniroyal Promenade didn’t exist. As the Riverwalk expanded, participants have been able to naturally expand their routines, adding distance to their walks while watching Detroit’s waterfront transform around them.
The program evolved as well.
Today, a typical Tuesday offers far more than a morning walk. Participants can attend fitness classes, receive free blood pressure screenings from Wayne State University medical and pharmacy students, connect with healthcare providers, speak with nutritionists, learn from organizations like AARP and Henry Ford Health, or simply spend time talking with friends before heading home. The fitness classes also add variety, giving participants the chance to revisit favorites like Zumba or try something entirely new, such as a drumming class.
For many participants, those conversations have become just as important as the exercise.
“The program meets people where they are,” Rodriguez says. “For some, the walk starts when they leave the parking lot. Others have already walked six miles before they get here. But regardless of how far someone walks, everyone has the opportunity to connect.”
That sense of connection carries particular significance for many older adults.
“This may be the only time some people leave the house that day,” Rodriguez says. “Maybe they live alone. Maybe they don’t have family nearby. This gives them a reason to get outside, move their bodies and spend time with other people.”
What has emerged over the past 18 years is more than a walking program. It’s a shared tradition – one that gives participants a sense of belonging while creating lasting connections to both one another and Detroit’s riverfront.
Perhaps nothing illustrates that tradition more than the Riverwalkers T-shirts.
Each season features a new color and updated design, but longtime participants rarely retire the older versions. Instead, they rotate through shirts collected over the years, creating an unofficial visual history of the program stretching back to 2008.
“They’ve almost become collector’s items,” Rodriguez says. “People are proud to wear them because they’re proud to be part of Riverwalkers.”
JULIE – 105 YEAR OLD RIVERWALKER
Some participants have been part of Riverwalkers since the very beginning. One Riverwalker is now 105 years old and has been part of the group since the beginning. During a recent visit, she participated in the program’s drumming class, enthusiastically keeping pace alongside everyone else.
Her daughter later told Rodriguez that her mother’s doctor encouraged her to keep moving, and Riverwalkers gives her the motivation to do exactly that.
“It’s a joy to see,” Rodriguez says. “Being able to create a place where someone like her wants to come, socialize and stay active is really special.”
In many ways, Riverwalkers reflects the broader evolution of Detroit’s riverfront.
What was once viewed primarily as a recreational destination has become one of the city’s most active civic spaces – a place where fitness, public health, culture and everyday life intersect.
That transformation has happened because of thoughtful planning and investment. But it has also happened because people continue to return, week after week, year after year, making the riverfront not simply a destination, but a place they genuinely feel connected to.
After 11 years overseeing Riverwalkers, Rodriguez says that’s what she appreciates most.
“My favorite part is seeing older adults really take ownership of one of our spaces,” she says. “They’re passionate about the RiverWalk. They’re proud of Detroit’s riverfront, and they are proud of the city itself.”
Riverwalkers is just one of many free programs offered by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy throughout the year. From fitness classes and wellness programming to family events, concerts and seasonal activities, the Conservancy offers opportunities for Detroiters of all ages to enjoy and connect with the riverfront. To learn more about Riverwalkers and the Conservancy’s full calendar of events, visit detroitriverfront.org.
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