The City of Detroit will name a new 26-mile recreational pathway connecting neighborhoods across the city to its international riverfront after Detroit boxing legend Joe Louis.
Louis' family joined Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Detroit City Council members, Highland Park Mayor Hubert Yopp and leaders from the State of Michigan and the City of Ferndale to make the announcement.
"I was with my dad in 1979 when he was honored at the opening of the Joe Louis Arena," Louis' daughter Candice Joseph said. "Now, nearly forty years later through the wonderful efforts of Mayor Mike Duggan and Detroit City Council, Joe Louis will be memorialized for decades to come with this amazing project, the Joe Louis Greenway."
The new 26-mile recreational path will connect neighborhoods to the riverfront and Dequindre Cut.
Construction will start in 2020.
George Joseph, Louis' son-in-law, said the Joe Louis Greenway will stand as a reminder of his legacy for generations to come.
"It's hard to imagine today the significance that Detroit's Brown Bomber had for the generations of our parents and grandparents," George said.
Duggan said Joe Louis was a leader "in every sense of the word."
"His courage and generosity united people of all races and backgrounds," he said. "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."
