Along with the opening of the Southwest Greenway this week, a major partnership announced funding that will help Detroit's greenways into the future. Corporate, government, and philanthropic funders announced an additional $70 million towards the Unified Greenway Campaign, with $229 million now raised toward their $350 million goal.

The Unified Greenway Campaign is a partnership formed last year between the city of Detroit, the Joe Louis Greenway Partnership, and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. The $350 million goal will include: 

  • $200 million to build the Joe Louis Greenway
  • $50 million to complete the Detroit Riverfront
  • $100 million to establish the Unified Greenway Endowment at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

The city announced earlier this year that it will give $6 million each year to support the operations and maintenance of the Detroit Riverfront and Joe Louis Greenway. 

The new funding announced this week was donated by:

  • The Ralph C. Wilson Foundation: $35 million
  • William Davidson Foundation: $20 million
  • Gilbert Family Foundation: $15 million
  • W.K. Kellogg Foundation: $5 million

“The grand opening of the Southwest Greenway is the perfect occasion to celebrate the tremendous progress of the Unified Greenway Campaign, which will complete and sustain the Detroit Riverfront and Joe Louis Greenway for generations,” said Matt Cullen, Chairman, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and architect of the Unified Greenway Campaign. “The early success of this campaign thanks to our funding partners, together with the City of Detroit’s commitment of ongoing support, is historic for our community and is nationally significant in the development of urban public spaces.”

The future Joe Louis GreenwayDetroit Riverfront Conservancy

The Southwest Greenway is a small segment of a much larger plan underway. The Joe Louis Greenway will run over 27 miles through the city and parts of Hamtramck, Highland Park, and Dearborn, and eventually Canada. This includes pathways like the Dequindre Cut and the Detroit Riverfront, and areas under construction right now.