When completed, the Joe Louis Greenway will connect neighborhoods in Detroit across 27.5 miles of trails. But it will also run through Highland Park and Hamtramck in Detroit, and into Dearborn. Today, the trailhead at West Warren, which sits at the border of Dearborn and Detroit, opened to the public.
The West Warren Trailhead has a 4 acre park with green space, playscapes, picnic areas, fitness equipment, and trails to additional Dearborn parks. The playscape features a 27-foot tall structure with a tube slide.
The $6 million project was funded by $3 million from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation and $3 million from city bond funds.
“The Joe Louis Greenway will bring communities like ours together by providing the opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships through recreation, connectivity, and economic potential. The Warren Gateway stretch of the greenway is a crucial next step toward connecting resilient neighborhoods with a shared vision for a greener, healthier, and more prosperous future,” said Abdullah H. Hammoud, Dearborn Mayor.
The site of the new Gateway was once home to railroad tracks; it was overgrown and prone to illegal dumping.
The Joe Louis Greenway is comprised of some trails already built out (the Dequindre Cut, Detroit Riverfront, Southwest Greenway) as well as sections currently under construction (most recently in Highland Park). The full 27.5 miles could be completed within five to 10 years, depending on funding.
