CityDeck is the cornerstone of redevelopment along Green Bay’s Fox Riverfront with the goal of creating a richer community for people at the heart of the old city. The project represents an innovative approach to revitalization, bringing together public agencies and institutions; private developers and owners; and non-profit and community organizers, to improve civic life.

Prior to the project’s start, the surrounding area had turned its back to the river, resulting in infrastructural barriers and abandoned warehouses. Adjacent downtown parcels were empty or severely underutilized, and unsurprisingly, there was little social or civic life with direct access to the river hampered or blocked.

To address these challenges, the design team identified broader urban design strategies for new open space and development along the river. Encompassing 5 acres of waterfront and 8 square blocks on each side of the river, the team sought solutions to reconnect city streets and create new development parcels where programmatic relationships between buildings and open space would reinforce one another.

The deck was conceived of as an extension of the city, a multi-tiered space for civic gatherings with an elevation that seamlessly blends into the urban fabric—extending the life of the adjacent buildings to the riverfront. In addition, CityDeck was designed to withstand an 100 year flood with custom benches that serve as strategic flood barricades.

The resulting 2.5 acre linear park connects a regional network of bike and pedestrian trails with downtown Green Bay infusing it with new life, 24/7. This newly revitalized riverfront is a place for families to mix with workers and residents; for all to kick back and watch a performance, view the sunset, and enjoy the city’s ‘front porch.’

client

City of Green Bay

location

Green Bay, WI

TEAM

Stoss
Vetter Denk Architects
Graef Anhalt and Schloemer and Associates
STS Consultants
WF Baird Associates
Clark Dietz
Light THIS! 
Pine + Swallow