Michigan DNR Outdoor Adventure Center

On July 20, 2015, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) opened the Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) to the public as part of the Detroit riverfront’s ongoing restoration efforts. The experiential center boasts a 36-foot indoor waterfall, 3,000-gallon freshwater aquarium, 40-foot-tall interactive tree, as well as all-terrain vehicle, bicycle, kayak, canoe and fishing-boat simulators. According to Ron Olson, chief of parks and recreation at the DNR, the redevelopment process was made possible by grant funding from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund — along with assistance from the Detroit Economic Growth Development Corporation, which purchased the old industrial complex and then sold it to the developer for $1.