Construction of a school ship dock and fishing pier at the Refuge Gateway.

A school ship dock and world-class fishing pier will be constructed at the Refuge Gateway in Trenton, Michigan. As the future site of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge's (Detroit River IWR) Visitors Center, the Refuge Gateway will welcome thousands of projected annual visitors to the Refuge. This project is led by Wayne County, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance (IWRA), and US Fish and Wildlife Service along with numerous other partners. The boat dock and fishing pier will extend 775' into the Detroit River to provide a free, universally accessible, shore-based fishing experience. The project includes a boardwalk, fishing pier, floating dock, seating areas, shade structures, and interpretive signage. Areas accessible from the boardwalk include shallow waters rich with panfish for youth and family fishing, and deepwater access for experienced fishermen. The shore-based entrance to the boat dock and fishing pier will allow the public to fish in water depths currently only available to those with a personal watercraft. This facility will also give the Michigan Sea Grant's Great Lakes school ship a docking location on the river, allowing for educational programming to use river and Refuge as a living laboratory for metropolitan area school children.