The
first
phase
will
transform
2.73
miles of
a former
Conrail
railway
line
from
Warren
Avenue
to
Fullerton
Avenue
into a
path for
walkers
and
runners
or for
people
riding
bikes,
and with
safe
street
crossings
and
connections
to
surrounding
neighborhoods. |
|
|
|
|
[bannerlinks/735 banner.htm] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officials,
community
leaders
and
family
of Joe
Louis to
break
ground
on a
27-mile
greenway
in his
name
•
1st
section
of
estimated
$200-million,
the
10-year
project
begins
in
Midwest
neighborhood,
helping
unlock
Detroit's
economy
during
the
recovery
•
Greenway
will
link
neighborhoods
across
the City
to each
other,
to the
internationally
acclaimed
Riverwalk,
Gordie
Howe
International
Bridge,
and the
region
by
connecting
to
Dearborn,
Hamtramck,
and
Highland
Park.
Posted
by HB
Meeks/
Tell Us
USA News
Network
DETROIT,
MI - On
May 17,
2021,
local
government
took the
first
significant
step to
create a
world-class,
27.5
mile-long
loop of
publicly
accessible
space
that
will
connect
Detroiters
and
their
neighborhoods.
This
move
opens
new
opportunities
for
recreation
and
economic
activity
as the
city
recovers
from the
impacts
of the
pandemic.
Mayor Duggan
was
joined
by
members
of Joe
Louis'
family,
local,
state,
and
federal
elected
officials.
Members
of the
community
began
work on
the
first
phase of
the
Greenway,
which
will
reactivate
a nearly
three-mile
stretch
of
abandoned
railroad
easement
in the
Midwest
neighborhood.
When
completed
later
this
year, it
will be
a new
place
for
residents
to walk,
run or
ride a
bike
safely
as the
Greenway
expands
to new
areas.
When
completed
in the
next 10
years,
the Joe
Louis
Greenway,
named
after
the
legendary
Detroit
boxing
legend,
will
transform
the
nature
of
recreational
access
in
Detroit
for
generations
to come,
according
to Mayor
Mike
Duggan.
"The Joe
Louis
Greenway
is about
two
things:
Honoring
one of
our
city's
greatest
and most
loved
citizens,"
said
Mayor
Duggan.
"Putting
this new
plan in
motion
puts Joe
Louis's
fighting
spirit
back on
the map
of
Detroit,"
said
Janette
Sadik-Khan,
principal
with
Bloomberg
Associates,
who
works
with
mayors
nationwide
on
transformative
transportation
projects.
"The
road to
a
stronger,
more
equitable
city
starts
by
reconnecting
people,
local
businesses,
schools
and jobs
with
each
other—and
with a
safe and
active
new way
to get
there."
"My
father
believed
that the
working
man was
the
hero—and
he loved
Detroit,"
said Joe
Louis
Barrow
II
"The
level of
pride
for
African
Americans
in the
accomplishments
of our
dad, Joe
Louis,
is
immeasurable.
We
realize
God's
plan for
this
grandson
of
slaves
was not
just to
become
the
greatest
heavyweight
champion
of all
times,
but to
change
the
hearts
of
Americans
of all
races.
Due to
the
steadfast
commitment
of Mayor
Mike
Duggan
and the
Detroit
City
Council,
the Joe
Louis
Greenway
will
stand as
a
monument
to the
legacy
of the
iconic
life of
a true
American
Hero,
Joe
Louis,
we are
eternally
grateful."
said The
Joe
Louis
Family.
The
beginning
of the
$211.8
million
project
is the
realization
of a
decades-long
dream to
bring
active
open
space
within
reach of
more
Detroit
residents.
It is
also the
culmination
of a
years-long
community
planning
process
and
dozens
of
meetings
engaging
and
bringing
communities
to the
table.
An
estimated
46,000
Detroiters
do not
live
within a
10-minute
walk of
a park,
and a
quarter
of all
residents
do not
have
reliable
access
to a
vehicle.
The Joe
Louis
Greenway
will
bring
recreational
space
accessible
within a
ten-minute
walk of
10
percent
of all
city
residents,
presenting
a
once-in-a
generation
opportunity
to
empower
and
unify
neighborhoods.
Phase
One
Details
The
first
phase
will
transform
2.73
miles of
a former
Conrail
railway
line
from
Warren
Avenue
to
Fullerton
Avenue
into a
path for
walkers
and
runners
or for
people
riding
bikes,
and with
safe
street
crossings
and
connections
to
surrounding
neighborhoods.
Phase
one will
be paid
for
through
$22M in
bond
funds,
2.5M
from the
Ralph C.
Wilson,
Jr.
Foundation
for
design
and
construction
plans,
and 4.5M
from
MDOT and
MDNR for
the
Conrail
acquisition.
A
strategy
is
underway
to
govern
and
manage
continuing
phases
of the
Greenway,
and to
raise
funding
from
philanthropic
organizations,
donors,
and from
regional,
state
and
federal
sources,
with
details
planned
to be
announced
later
this
summer.
Phase
One will
include
purchasing
an
existing
scrap
yard
immediately
north of
Joy and
converting
it into
new
greenspace
for the
trail.
"One of
the most
powerful
aspects
of the
Joe
Louis
Greenway
is how
it will
take
existing
vacant
and
blighted
land and
turn
them
into
areas of
beauty
and
recreation,"
said
Group
Executive
for
Services
and
Infrastructure,
Brad
Dick.
"Throughout
this
process
we have
been
very
satisfied
with the
community
engagement,
said
Sheri
Burton,
president,
Midwest
Civic
Council
of Block
Clubs.
"We are
excited
to
continue
with the
advisory
council
and
ensure
sustained
community
support
for this
project."
Closing
the loop
When
completed,
the Joe
Louis
Greenway
will
connect
with
more
than six
miles of
existing
Greenway
along
the
Riverfront
and
along
the
Dequindre
Cut. An
additional
4.6
miles of
connecting
Greenway
are
under
development
by a
partnership
of
municipal
and
private
groups,
including
the
Southwest
Greenway
by the
Detroit
Riverfront
Conservancy.
The goal
is to
complete
the
27.5-mile
loop by
the end
of 2030.
The
Community
Foundation
for
South
East
Michigan
has
agreed
to hold
an
endowment
for the
future
maintenance
and
management
of the
Greenway,
opening
the door
new
fundraising
efforts.
Unlike
Greenway
and
rails-to-trails
projects
elsewhere
in the
nation,
about 45
percent
of the
land for
the Joe
Louis
Greenway
is owned
by the
City of
Detroit,
decreasing
the
costs
and time
needed
to
acquire
the
land.
The
ownership
also
increases
the
voice
that
residents
and
their
representatives
have in
the
design
of the
project,
helping
it
reflect
local
needs.
Opportunities
for
Detroiters
The
contracting
documents
have
also
been
drafted
to
prioritize
employment
for
local
residents,
supporting
the
50,000
businesses
citywide
owned by
entrepreneurs
of
color,
and
creating
employment
opportunities
for the
Greenway
itself
for
local
residents.
Greenway
and
rails-to-trails
projects
in other
cities
have
created
far-reaching
economic
benefits,
increasing
foot
traffic
in
neighborhoods
and
sales in
local
businesses,
and
encouraging
livability
and
investment
in
adjacent
areas.
The City
is
committed
to
ensuring
that
resulting
development
around
the
Greenway
promotes
equity,
prevents
displacement,
and
creates
economic
opportunity
for
Detroit
communities.
The Joe
Louis
Greenway
is
following
city
processes
to hire
Detroit-based
contractors
and
contractors
that
hire a
majority
of
Detroit
residents.
Moving
forward
the City
has been
working
closely
with its
partners
at the
Detroit
Economic
Growth
Corporation
and
Detroit
Employment
Solutions
Corporation
to
exceed
those
requirements.
For more
information,
and to
view the
Joe
Louis
Greenway
Framework
Plan,
visit
joelouisgreenway.com.
Advertise With Us:
Certified Minority Business Enterprise
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|