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Robert C. Valade Park in Detroit Visitor’s Guide & Photo Gallery

Valade Park in Detroit features a beautiful playground as well as sandy beach, musical Garden, and plenty of great spaces for fishing.

Valade Park Amenities

Formerly known as Atwater Beach, Robert C. Valade Park is the newest park to open along the East Riverfront. The park features colorful playscapes, musical garden, a sandy beach as well as a community barbeque pavilion.

colorful play scape

In addition to the playground, the park offers a bike path, restroom facilities, pavilion, cafe, plenty of seating, and sand volleyball.

The park offers a great scenic view of the Detroit Riverfront. It also connects the Stroh River Place to Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre. Thus making this a great central location for a family outing.

Robert C. Valade Park in Detroit

Valade Park Overview:

Play Elements: several different structures for children ages 2 to 12
Swings: none
Surface: grass, sand as well as sand
Unique Features: The Park has food and bar service (closed when we visited). Also, sandy beach with chairs and umbrellas, a musical garden, colorful playscapes for climbing.
Valade Park also hosts Bob’s Barge (closed when we visited) which is Detroit’s only Floating Bar. Finally, there are bike racks and lots of fishing spots by the Riverfront. The park also has fire extinguishers located close to the public grill area.
Bathrooms:  Yes, portable sanitation available close to the pavilion.
Drinking Fountain: no
Shade: yes
Pavilion:  yes
Picnic Tables: yes
Grills: Yes, two big grills available at the pavilion
Sports Fields: sand volleyball (currently closed)
Walking Trails: Yes, paved along Detroit River Front and within the park.
Parking: Free gravel parking lot available at the corner of Atwater and Chene Streets 
Tot Play Structure: no
Fenced in: no
Seating: beach chairs are available at the sand beach area. There are benches around the park. Guests can enjoy chairs with tables and umbrellas near the Cafe area. Also, there is a unique seating area decorated by old truck trunk doors.

Connect with the Detroit Riverfront

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Parks in Detroit, Michigan

  • Belle Isle Beach: A Great Place for Summer Fun
    Belle Isle Beach is a great place to cool off and enjoy time with your family.  The beach is free with park admission (which requires vehicles to have an annual Michigan State Parks Recreation Passport). 
  • Delray Memorial Park Detroit
    Delray Memorial Park in Detroit is a colorful boundless playground with wide-open spaces for children to run and play. 
  • Campus Martius Beach – An Urban Summer Destination
    Does your family love beach sands and Downtown Detroit?  If so, you don’t want to miss a visit to the Campus Martius Beach this summer.  Colorful beach chairs and umbrella decorate the fun outdoor urban beach, together with 4000,000 pounds of sand.
  • Lafayette Greens Urban Garden – The Greening of Detroit
    Serene urban green space on West Lafayette, directly across from Westin Book Cadillac Hotel. Rows upon rows of raised garden beds display beautiful as well as fragrant flowers. 
  • Dad Butler Playfield Detroit
    Dad Butler Playfield is a Boundless accessible playground where children of all abilities can visit and have fun for hours.
  • Mt. Elliott Park in Detroit
    A gem right on the Detroit Riverfront, a perfect place to cool down and let your children play. Additionally, the park features a brand new splash pad. 
  • DNR Outdoor Adventure Center
    This family-friendly Detroit destination features Michigan’s woods, water, and also wildlife. Located inside a three-story 40,000 square foot building formerly known as the Globe Building. 

Finally, you may want to check out our Ten Favorite Playgrounds in Metro Detroit.

Amber Louchart
Author: Amber Louchart

Amber is the proud mother to four beautiful children, Damian (27), Rosaleigh (14), Carlyn (11), and Naomi (8). Her family also includes four cats. She loves being a stay-at-home mom and feels blessed to be able to care for her children full-time and provide them with so many opportunities through Metro Detroit Mommy. In addition to Metro Detroit Mommy, Amber has a passion for hosting karaoke with Malibu Entertainment.  She enjoys the metro Detroit nightlife especially, singing, dancing and meeting new people.