Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to President Biden meets park ambassadors during a tour of Joe Louis Greenway. Photo by Dante Rionda.
Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden, joined Mayor Mike Duggan to celebrate the progress of the Joe Louis Greenway (JLG), a nearly 30-mile path that will connect four cities and 23 neighborhoods to Detroit’s riverfront. $90 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have been allocated to this transformative project, which aims to revitalize overlooked neighborhoods and provide vibrant public spaces for residents.
Mayor Duggan highlighted the impact of the Joe Louis Greenway on communities long overlooked for major investments. “The Joe Louis Greenway is already transforming neighborhoods that had long felt neglected and wondered when it would be their turn to see major investment like this. Now families in these areas are seeing blighted land turned into places of beauty,” said Mayor Duggan. “We deeply appreciate the Biden Administration and our state and county partners who see the great value in this important work.” Of the $90 million ARPA funding, $60 million came from the State of Michigan, $20 million from Wayne County, and $10 million from the City of Detroit.
Tom Perez emphasized the importance of reconnecting communities and ensuring equity in development. “The Joe Louis Greenway project is about reconnecting communities, making sure we are indeed one Detroit,” said Perez. “The American Rescue Plan in particular was a partnership built on trust. We said to Mayor Duggan, Mayor Hammoud, County Executive Warren Evans, and Governor Whitmer, here is a significant amount of money, we trust you on how to spend it as long as you remember that equity north star—and that’s exactly what you have done and that’s exactly what grounds this project.”
Mayor Mike Duggan and Tom Perez tour JLG. Photo by Dante Rionda.
The Joe Louis Greenway will link Detroiters in 23 neighborhoods to Hamtramck, Dearborn, and Highland Park, along with existing trails like the Dequindre Cut and Detroit Riverfront. Construction on the JLG began in May 2021, with seven miles already completed and four miles currently under construction, including the segment between West Davison and Intervale Street. This stretch, funded by $5.7 million in Wayne County ARPA dollars, also features about four acres of former railroad property. Crews are working on earthwork, grading, and underground utilities, with completion expected by September 2025.
Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans praised the project’s role in enhancing green spaces and parks, which improve the quality of life for all residents. “One of the best visual examples of what we’ve accomplished during my administration is the enhancement of our green spaces and parks. The unveiling of the Joe Louis Greenway is a perfect example. The connectivity it will create among our communities will enhance the quality of life for everyone. When we invest in our green spaces and parks, we invest in ourselves, and this investment will benefit generations to come.”
Adjacent to this stretch, Intervale-Roselawn Park is undergoing full renovation, including a playground, walking path, multi-sport court, and picnic shelter. The City of Detroit has applied for a grant from the State of Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources for further renovations. In March 2023, the City’s Construction and Demolition Department began demolishing the abandoned La Choy Factory bordering the greenway path. Detroit-based Adamo Group completed the demolition in 11 days, funded by $1.6 million in City of Detroit ARPA dollars.
Leona Medley, Executive Director of the Joe Louis Greenway Partnership, expressed gratitude for the leadership and investment in green spaces. “Thank you to Mayor Duggan for his leadership, investment in green spaces, and work to ensure that every neighborhood has a future. At the Joe Louis Greenway Partnership, we are dedicated to providing residents with vibrant public spaces enriched by regular programming, enhancing their quality of life right in their own backyard. The Joe Louis Greenway is truly about people, progress, and our shared future, ensuring equity and inclusion for all.”
Plans are in place to develop the former La Choy site into an extension of the park, featuring sports fields, a splash pad, a comfort station, and an additional playground. Funding is still being sought for these improvements. The Joe Louis Greenway Partnership has secured $190 million for the construction of the pathway and surrounding green spaces, including a recent $20.7 million RAISE Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
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