Downtown Flint's Riverbank Park is a one of a kind modernist park designed by world renowned landscape architect Lawrence Halprin. The city park, which has been described by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office as "one of the most important modernist landscapes in the state" is broken into 8 "blocks" as it stretches from the campus of the University of Michigan - Flint to Grand Traverse Street on both sides of the river.
Each block was designed to facilitate a specific use, including a playground, promenade, the famous Grand Fountain, as well as the now defunct "Archimedes Screw." The Amphitheater block is used continuously as a venue for community and private events, including the Flint Jazz Festival, Flint's Juneteenth celebration, and the Flint Gospel Music Festival.
