Detroit names planned greenway after boxing legend Joe Louis

Detroit is honouring hometown boxing legend Joe Louis with a sprawling trails project to help connect the city’s neighbourhoods to the riverfront.

Officials on Friday officially announced the Joe Louis Greenway, a $235 million project featuring bike and pedestrian paths.

Louis was born in Alabama and later moved with his family to Detroit. He claimed boxing’s heavyweight title in 1937 and held it for more than a decade. He died in 1981.

The arena that long housed the Detroit Red Wings before closing this year also bears Louis’ name. A 24-foot sculpture of Louis’ right arm and fist is displayed downtown.

Construction on the 26-mile (42-kilometre) public-private greenway venture is expected to start in 2020.

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Louis’ son-in-law says the greenway will honour Louis “for generations to come.”

The Associated Press