Joe Louis Greenway: Connecting Detroit’s Neighborhoods
Detroit is historically known as the Motor City, but it’s becoming a national leader in non-motorized infrastructure projects. A great example of that is the Joe Louis Greenway.
The almost 30-mile long non-motorized pathway will be a major artery connecting Detroit’s diverse communities, cultures, world-class parks, attractions, and institutions—schools, historic sites, commercial corridors—and even our international neighbor Canada via the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
The Joe Louis Greenway is transforming blight to beauty, supporting economic development, engaging communities along the greenway, while improving public safety, sustainability and health.
Getting the Joe Louis Greenway to this point involved leadership from Mayor Mike Duggan and a shared vision of multiple city, state and federal departments; the philanthropic community, and community advocates and experts. The Joe Louis Greenway Framework plan, which set the vision for the project in partnership with the community, was funded by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.
Expected to be completed in 2027, the Joe Louis Greenway (JLG) will be one of the largest greenway projects in the US. It will link 23 neighborhoods across the city of Detroit, along with the neighboring cities of Hamtramck, Highland Park, and Dearborn. The JLG also connects to existing bike and pedestrian paths in the city, including the Detroit RiverWalk, Dequindre Cut, and Southwest Greenway. It ties into important international connections, including a bike network that will connect cyclists with Windsor across the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
What is Joe Louis Greenway?
Built from the bones of dirt trails and railroad track beds no longer in use, now the Joe Louis Greenway will be a sustainable transportation conduit for people and culture instead of rail cars. In 2017, the City of Detroit purchased the 8-mile abandoned rail corridor in the city of Detroit from Conrail. With the demolition of the Joe Louis Arena downtown, the city was looking for a new way to recognize the boxing legend and Detroit native Joe Louis in the City. In 2019 the project was renamed in honor of Joe Louis, and the City began the JLG Framework Planning Process.
The Joe Louis Greenway was first proposed in 2007 as the Inner Circle Greenway. That led to the formation of the Detroit Greenways Coalition and its 2009 Greenway Network Vision. It gained steam when Mayor Duggan took office.
The Inspiration of Joe Louis
Named for (and with the blessing of his family) Detroit boxing heavyweight Joe Louis, the Greenway is a fitting tribute. Louis had a strong connection with Detroit. He moved to Detroit with his family in 1926, lived in the Black Bottom neighborhood and later worked at Ford Motor Company.
The greenway exemplifies the Brown Bomber’s strength and fighting spirit. Louis broke the color barrier in sports before Jackie Robinson and fought fascism in the ring in 1938 and in the Army during WWII. He also fought for equal opportunities for Blacks in the armed forces.
Louis held the heavyweight championship title from 1937 to 1949. Greenway advocates hope that invoking his name helps make Detroit the world heavyweight greenway champion.
What Problems Will Joe Louis Greenway Address?
Accessing Detroit’s neighborhoods without an automobile or dependable mass transit can be a problem. This difficulty contributed to neighborhoods being or feeling isolated and used as garbage dumps by unscrupulous polluters.
By removing the garbage and making it a greenway, the area becomes occupied and less suitable as a dumping ground. The Joe Louis Greenway could then connect those oases with a safe, non-motorized path.
Connecting Neighborhoods and Preserving Their Stories
With the neighborhoods disconnected, isolated, and underpopulated, the residents sometimes felt forgotten. One way the City of Detroit showed that they weren’t was to talk to them and listen. During the framework planning process, the city held 14 public meetings of their own on the shape and direction of the Joe Louis Greenway, city officials visited and engaged with residents at 44 neighborhood events. Since the plan was published in 2021, the city has continued to engage communities along the greenway as design and construction progresses along the project.