The money from the foundation is earmarked to support construction of phase two of the project. Ultimately, the development will include a river walk allowing pedestrian traffic along the shore of the river from the GM Renaissance Center east to the MacArthur Bridge.

Already developed along the way is TriCentennial State Park and the General Motors plaza. The riverwalk portion of the project is to start construction later this spring, with completion expected by early 2006.

The conservancy is also working to develop a plan to redevelop and revitalize the west riverfront, from the Renaissance Center west to the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The community foundation also gave an $84,000 grant this week to the City of Pontiac to support the planning and design of a pedestrian bridge over Telegraph Road along the Clinton River Trail. Both of the grants were made as part of the foundation's GreenWays Initiative.