The Joe Louis Greenway

It’s impossible to grow up in Detroit and not know about Joe Louis.

He’s more than a statue downtown; he’s a symbol – of power, determination, and someone who fought his way out of the city and into the annals of history.

With that in mind, the city’s decision to name its new trail system after him makes sense.

It’s huge, ambitious, and set to connect parts of Detroit that have never before been connected – a 27.5-mile greenway that will wind through neighborhoods and connect them to the riverfront, parks, and each other.

It’s no quick sidewalk fix; it’s a new main line for the city of Detroit and a new way to travel the city without a car, one that is expected to be well used by bike riders, joggers, families, and anyone who prefers commuting by foot – a rarity for big city living.

After all, Detroit has always been a car town. 

Walk anywhere and you’re taking a risk – there are no sidewalks, traffic is always flying by, and there’s nothing to stop commuters who aren’t paying close attention to the road from getting seriously injured. 

A true trail changes everything, affording the safety measures many Detroiters have long been asking for.

Why It Matters

In short, the Joe Louis Greenway is about more than just recreation. 

It’s about access, allowing neighborhood children to ride their bikes to parks they’ve possibly never even been before and older residents to walk there safely. 

It’s a perfect example of how you build a city up brick by brick, properly navigating freeways and putting to use vacant lots.

Soon enough, Detroiters will be able to tell someone outside the city that Detroit boasts one of the nation’s largest urban greenways. 

Not only that, but some residents have even been allowed a platform to offer their input on the trail’s development, from where it will run to what features will come along with it, allowing them to feel as if they have some say in the process and reassuring them that the trail won’t lead to the displacement that’s so commonly seen when major cities build new greenways.

The Work Ahead

Pieces of the Joe Louis Greenway are already open, even though it’s not entirely finished. 

After all, building 27 miles of interconnected paths takes time, money, and patience.

This is a loop that connects Southwest to the West Side, Highland Park to Hamtramck, and all of those areas directly to the river.

It’s a trail named after a man who carried Detroit’s name clear across the world, and though it’s far from done, big things are coming.

It’s much more than just another construction project.

It’s a new way of moving, seeing, and connecting – which is really what Joe Louis stood for above all else:

Putting up a fight, bringing people together, and showing the world what Detroit is capable of accomplishing even in the face of extreme adversity.