The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation today announced a gift of $500,000 from the trusts of Mr. Wilson’s late daughters, Edith “Dee Dee” Wilson and Linda Bogdan to support the development of the future Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park, including the creation of a garden in recognition of the two women.
The Foundation will also recommend an estimated $150,000 annually from the daughters’ endowed donor advised fund at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to the Conservancy to support the maintenance and seasonal plantings in the future 22-acre park on Detroit’s West Riverfront.
“Ralph’s daughters held a very special place in his heart, and each bonded with him over their shared passions. Dee Dee and Linda both loved to play tennis, spend time outdoors, and enjoyed gardening. When identifying how to allocate this generous gift from their estate, we knew it would be most appropriate to honor these passions in a way that will live on through the park, along with sustaining these spaces and investing in future programing that community members can enjoy,” said Mary Wilson, life trustee and board chair, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.
Foundation.
These gifts add to the $40 million capital gift and $10 million endowment made by the Foundation to the Conservancy for the park in October 2018 when celebrating the 100th anniversary of its namesake and founder Ralph Wilson’s birth.
“The tremendous generosity of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation has made our vision for a world-class park along the West Riverfront possible, and we are grateful for their continued support,” said Mark Wallace, president & CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. “We are excited about the opportunity to create a colorful and engaging garden in recognition of his beloved daughters Dee Dee and Linda. These gifts will help us to maintain Ralph Wilson Park into the future.”
The Foundation will also honor Dee Dee and Linda’s shared love for the game of tennis, which was also enjoyed by Mr. Wilson throughout his entire life, by recommending an estimated $125,000 annually from the donor advised fund to support youth tennis programming, general and capital maintenance of courts throughout the region. Grants from the fund will be announced later this year.
Prior to his death, Mr. Wilson set up trusts for his daughters. Edith “Dee Dee” Wilson passed away in January 2020 at age 68, and Linda Bogdan passed away in April 2009 at age 61.
The Detroit Riverfront attracts 3.5 million visitors annually and has remained open every day during the coronavirus pandemic.
Since March 2020, use of the Detroit Riverwalk has increased 20 percent and Dequindre Cut usage has increased by 40 percent. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy has invested more than $200 million in the revitalization of the Detroit Riverfront, which in turn has generated more than $2 billion in public and private investment.
The Detroit Riverwalk was recently named Best Riverwalk in the country by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.