It will be anything but scary when the complete the Warren Gateway stretch of the Joe Louis Greenway opens to the community on the evening of Halloween.
The ribbon cutting of the $6 million Warren Gateway segment borders the communities of Detroit and Dearborn. The public space includes a 4-acre park on the westside of Central Ave, and features a signature playscape, a pavilion with flexible community space, fitness equipment, green infrastructure, and accessible parking.
“This is a celebration of community and of the residents – their commitment to support this project,” said Leona Medley, Executive Director, Joe Louis Greenway Partnership.
“By creating really dynamic public spaces in the city Joe Louis Greenway is an opportunity to enhance upon all of the amazing regional and small community parks and to connect the neighborhoods by way of this path.”
This new public green space was made financially possible due to a $3 million grant from the Ralph C Wilson, Jr. Foundation and $3 million in city bond funding.
The completer Warren Greenway stretch of the Greenway is a part of a, 27.5-mile greenway that will link 23 Detroit neighborhoods, including the cities of Highland Park, Hamtramck & Dearborn and connect to the Detroit riverfront as well.
The Joe Louis Greenway once completed, aims to provide a well-lighted, and safe place for people to enjoy for leisure and recreation. From walking, to biking, or sitting and taking in people and nature, the new trails aims to become another amazing jewel within the Detroit and surrounding communities.
The blueprint for the Joe Louis Greenway was constructed by the vision of Detroit residents who participated in a two-year engagement process. The community input resulted in the Framework Plan capturing the responses of residents and acting a project guide. The project has been a priority for Detroit’s City Council and Mayor Mike Duggan amid wide vocal support of the projects from community residents.
The first phase of Joe Louis Greenway broke ground in May 2021 and the second phase broke ground in September 2022. Construction phases are expected to continue annually through 2026 with segments opening for use as they are completed. Last fall, the opening of a one-mile stretch of the greenway between Joy and Plymouth roads was celebrated.
“This project has brought together the funding ecosystem of the community,” Medley says. “From federal and state dollars, to county and city funding for construction – there is also a lot
of really corporate and private foundations that have come in to fund this project for amazing public spaces.”
The City of Detroit continues to shoot for 2027 as the current timetable for completion of the Greenway. The ‘Greenway Partnership’ will continue to focus on community engagement throughout the entire process, in addition to the programming and activation of the Greenway as more segments open to the public over the next few years.
The project has been constructed in areas that once were home to old and abandoned railways and the process for cleaning them up has been a task. From removing thousands of tires, to environmental land clean-up, the newly created green space in a useable public space addresses in-part air quality issues in a city that could use more areas trees and greenery in a different way in addressing the overall environmental health of Detroiters.
“This project has had other names over the years, but to bring this Joe Louis Greenway name into it, it’s about how do we serve our communities, and how do we make sure we’re being thoughtful in some cases on communities that have been forgotten and to remind ourselves that these communities are filled with fighters.”
Medley says for so many neighbors who have stayed in the city – cut the grass, kept the lights, and done the hard community work, “we continue to see people in our neighborhoods who are modern day Joe Louis’”.
Born in Alabama, Louis moved to Detroit as a child. As a teenager, he took up boxing lessons at the Brewster Recreation Center. Louis eventually captured the world heavyweight championship, and a title he kept for 12 years, marking his legacy as a Detroit and international iconic figure.
Louis brought the nation together in June 1938 by fighting and defeating German boxing champion Max Schmeling. Their fight was set in a time and backdrop of a growing Nazi movement in Germany leading up to the start of WWII.
Louis became an iconic American hero, representing Black America and ideas of American democracy.
“Joe Louis was a leader in every sense of the word,” Mayor Duggan said.
“His courage and generosity united people of all races and backgrounds. He made it clear to the world that where you start doesn’t define how far you will go. For that reason, I can’t think of a better person to whom Detroit can bestow this honor. The Joe Louis Greenway will remove boundaries and connect families and neighborhoods across our city to a tremendous riverfront that residents will enjoy together.”
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