Mayor Mike Duggan joined with community partners and residents recently to cut the ribbon on a beautiful section of the Joe Louis Greenway at Grand River near Oakman Boulevard and to unveil a new bronze statue of the boxing legend that will adorn this section of the 27-mile greenway named in his honor.
The new segments of the Greenway are located between Joy Road and Intervale Street, adding two new miles of greenway north of the section between Warren Avenue and Joy Road opened in 2023. The segment includes new sidewalks and bike paths, landscaping and new trees, steel panel fencing, lighting and emergency call boxes for safety. This new segment also features a new trailhead at Grand River Ave. near Cloverdale St. that includes an open-air shelter area for reserving and gathering, resurfaced alley access for food trucks and entertainment and a plaza, where the new Joe Louis statue is located. The new trailhead will serve as one of the main gateways to the Greenway, like one already open at W. Warren Avenue.
“The Joe Louis Greenway is transforming miles of blight and creating beauty and recreational opportunities, while connecting neighborhoods in a new way,” said Mayor Duggan. “We named the greenway after Joe Louis because of his incredible contributions in and outside of the ring and I’m thrilled to be here with his daughter, Joyce, to unveil the beautiful new statue of her father.”
With the opening of this segment, nearly six miles of the greenway have been completed by the City of Detroit and are now open. Another six miles of the Greenway are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
These new segments of the greenway were funded by $35 million of State ARPA dollars awarded by the MI Department of Natural Resources. The Oakman Blvd. shared-use path was funded by a $1.4 million MDOT Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) Grant.
This new sculpture, created by artist Austen Brantley, honors Joe Louis’ barrier-breaking work in the world of golf.
“The spirit that never quits that’s what this statue means to me, “said Joyce Barrow-Henderson, daughter of Joe Louis. “Not only for golfers but for families, for children, for dreamers for every person who knows that greatness does not come from winning every fight it comes from getting back up again, again and again.”
The “Outside the Ring” sculpture in honor of Joe Louis was completed by artist Austen Brantley over a 5-month period. The City of Detroit General Service Department and Office of Arts Culture and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) collaborated on an open call to honor the boxer’s life outside the fighting ring and highlight his other passions and business ventures. This bronze statue honors Joe Louis’ work desegregating American golf. He was the first African American to play in a PGA-sanctioned tournament, and he held the Joe Louis Open Tournaments for Black players to showcase their excellence and help pave the way for them to eventually play in PGA tournaments.
“The Joe Louis ‘Outside the Ring’ statue was commissioned to honor the boxer’s achievements outside the boxing ring,” said Rochelle Riley, Director of Arts and Culture. “He was the first African American to play in a PGA-sanctioned tournament and held Joe Louis Open Tournaments right here in Detroit to showcase the talent of Black players, paving the way for them to eventually play in PGA tournaments.
The Joe Louis sculpture was part of a beautification effort funded by a $40 million Michigan Economic Development Corporation Grant.
For the people in the neighborhoods the Joe Louis Greenway connects, milestones like this new sculpture and completion of more miles reignites the passion behind this project and the programming on the path.
“I look at this project as a connector and I use the word unifier to describe it and that also makes me think of Joe Louis,” said Gerald Jeter who lives and goes to church along the greenway. “He was a unifier, not just a boxing champion but a champion of Detroit.
“The Joe Louis Greenway is designed with community at its heart. Every new mile reflects the voices of our neighbors, ensuring that connection, safety, and beauty remain central to its impact,” said Leona Medley, Executive Director, Joe Louis Greenway Partnership. “These new segments will connect even more people across Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck, and Highland Park, bringing our region closer together through shared spaces that serve everyone.”
JOE LOUIS GREENWAY
The Joe Louis Greenway is a 29-mile bike and pedestrian path that will connect 23 Detroit neighborhoods with the communities of Highland Park, Hamtramck, and Dearborn. The vision for the project was established through the Joe Louis Greenway Framework Plan, which was the outcome of a robust community engagement effort.
The project goals are to connect people and places, improve quality of life, and promote equity and equality. The city purchased an 8-mile abandoned rail corridor for the development of the greenway, and since construction began in 2021 the General Services Department has removed 31,000 tires, over 600,000 tons of mixed Debris.
