Joe Louis Greenway Partnership

What Joe Louis Greenway Partnership does

The Joe Louis Greenway Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2022 and headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the long-term steward of the Joe Louis Greenway, a nearly 30-mile multi-use recreational trail connecting 23 neighborhoods across Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck, and Highland Park in Southeast Michigan. The trail network combines new trails, on-street protected bike lanes, and links to existing trails, and includes amenities such as trailheads, MOGO bike share stations, fitness equipment, picnic areas, community buildings, bike repair stations, and emergency call boxes. The organization operates with a small core staff of 1-10 employees under Executive Director Leona Medley and is governed by a Board of Directors co-chaired by Jared Fleisher and Crystal Perkins.\n\nThe Partnership delivers its mission through three core programs: inclusive programming (free fitness classes such as Yin Nights yoga, Fit 2 Win dance cardio, Sculpt Pilates, and Zumba), ongoing beautification (public art installations and landscape maintenance), and intentional community engagement (resident collaboration and stakeholder partnerships). All programming and trail access are provided free of charge. The organization coordinates with four municipal governments — Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck, and Highland Park — for Parks & Recreation services, public safety coordination, and infrastructure maintenance. The Community Advisory Board ensures district-level resident representation.\n\nThe revenue model is grant- and donation-based, typical of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Disclosed funding includes a $20 million RAISE Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (2024), $600,000 from the Rocket Community Fund (2024), $45,000 from the Community Foundation's Ralph C. Wilson Jr Legacy Funds (2025), and $2,000,000 from the Knight Foundation (2025). The Partnership is part of a broader $350 million Unified Greenway campaign supporting Detroit's riverfront and the greenway in perpetuity. The JLG Framework Plan received three 2024 industry awards — American Planning Association, American Society of Landscape Architects, and Architizer — for its community-led planning approach.

Name

Joe Louis Greenway Partnership

Legal name

Joe Louis Greenway Partnership

Website

https://jlgpartnership.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Joe Louis Greenway Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that stewards a nearly 30-mile multi-use recreational trail connecting 23 neighborhoods across Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck, and Highland Park, delivering free programming, wellness activities, and community engagement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Recreational Infrastructure

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)

Keywords

• Urban greenway trail
• Community wellness programs
• Recreational infrastructure
• Public space stewardship
• Nonprofit community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support greenway programs and initiatives. A donation page is available on their website.
2. Federal Grants: Received a $20 million RAISE Grant from the federal government to connect the Joe Louis Greenway and Iron Belle Trail.
3. Foundation Grants: Received $600,000 from Rocket Community Fund and $45,000 through Community Foundation's Ralph C. Wilson Jr Legacy Funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Joe Louis Greenway Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as the long-term steward of the Joe Louis Greenway, a nearly 30-mile multi-use recreational trail network connecting 23 neighborhoods across Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck, and Highland Park. The organization delivers free inclusive programming (wellness classes, senior walking clubs, youth engagement, public art and beautification initiatives) and coordinates with municipal partners to operate, maintain, and expand the greenway corridor and its amenities.

Product overview

The Joe Louis Greenway Partnership manages the Joe Louis Greenway, a nearly 30-mile multi-use recreational trail connecting 23 neighborhoods across Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck, and Highland Park. The organization delivers its mission through three core pillars: Inclusive Programming (wellness activities, community events, youth engagement), Ongoing Beautification (public art installations, landscape maintenance, environmental sustainability), and Intentional Community Engagement (resident collaboration, stakeholder partnerships). The greenway features physical amenities including trailheads, MOGO bike share stations, fitness equipment, picnic areas, and community buildings. Programming includes free fitness classes (Yin Nights yoga, Fit 2 Win dance cardio, Sculpt Pilates, Zumba fitness) and senior wellness programs. The organization serves as the long-term steward of the greenway under a 501(c)(3) structure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Joe Louis Greenway Trail Network A nearly 30-mile multi-use recreational trail combining new trails, on-street protected bike lanes, and links to existing trails that connects 23 neighborhoods across Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck, and Highland Park; free and open to the public for walking, hiking, and biking.
• Community Wellness Programming Free fitness and wellness classes including Yin Nights yoga, Zumba, Sculpt Pilates, Fit 2 Win dance cardio, walking clubs for seniors, and youth-focused personal training and mindfulness sessions offered at trailheads along the greenway.
• Community Events and Cultural Programming Free family-friendly events and cultural programming, including public art and face-painting activations, designed to engage residents and celebrate the diverse cultures surrounding the greenway.
• Greenway Amenities and Access Infrastructure Physical access and amenity infrastructure distributed across the trail, including trailheads (e.g., Warren Trailhead at 7241 McDonald, Detroit), playgrounds, picnic areas, outdoor fitness equipment, MOGO bike share stations, bike repair stations, water fountains, restrooms, BBQ grills, parking, and emergency call boxes.
• Joe Louis Greenway Interactive Map Digital interactive mapping tool allowing visitors and residents to explore access points, trail segments, and amenities across the nearly 30-mile greenway corridor.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 neighborhoods connected across 4 cities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• The Hype Wellness GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2024Briahna Knowles founded The Hype Wellness Group which offers personal training, yoga sessions, and mindfulness classes for youth on the Greenway, fostering holistic lifestyle changes within the community.
• Keep Growing DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Angela Lugo-Thomas serves as Garden Development Manager at Keep Growing Detroit and is recognized for her contributions to the community around the Greenway. Keep Growing Detroit supports urban agriculture and food sovereignty in the city.
• We Run 313coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2024Lance Woods co-founded We Run 313, a community running group that promotes black health and well-being. The Partnership supports this community through providing safe spaces for runners, walkers, and cyclists.
• Sculpt PilatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides beginner-friendly mat Pilates classes held weekly at the Warren Trailhead of the Joe Louis Greenway.
• Physical Fitness with RobertminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads dynamic and inclusive Zumba fitness classes on the Greenway, designed to get the community moving with different music and routines each week.
• Highland Park Old TimerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity walking club for seniors that meets at the Ernest T. Ford Recreation Center before walking on the Greenway. Supports senior health, outdoor enjoyment, and community connection.
• Fit 2 WinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts high-energy dance and cardio classes on the Greenway, featuring fun choreography and cardio workouts.
• Sandy's LandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides face painting services at Yin Nights yoga sessions on the Greenway, adding entertainment for families and children.
• City of DetroitflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary municipal partner providing Parks & Recreation services, city issue reporting, shelter reservations, and coordination for Greenway maintenance and operations.
• City of DearborncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner providing Parks & Recreation services for the Dearborn portion of the Greenway.
• City of Highland ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner providing Parks & Recreation and Public Safety services for the Highland Park portion of the Greenway.
• City of HamtramckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner providing Parks & Recreation services for the Hamtramck portion of the Greenway.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that partners with cities to design and fund urban parks, trails, and greenways (including the 606). Broader portfolio than JLG but operates the same playbook: federal grant acquisition, community-led design frameworks, and urban green infrastructure stewardship.
• East Coast Greenway Alliance: Nonprofit coordinating a 3,000-mile multi-state urban trail from Maine to Florida. Broader-scale but operates the same playbook: multi-jurisdictional greenway stewardship, federal transportation grants (including RAISE), and community programming.

Direct peers

• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: National nonprofit focused on converting rail corridors into multi-use trails and stewarding a network of greenways. Directly comparable mission and operating model (501(c)(3) stewardship of urban/multi-jurisdictional trail networks, federal grant recipient).
• Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Public-private nonprofit delivering a 22-mile loop of multi-use trails, transit, and parks around Atlanta. Highly comparable mission: urban trail network + inclusive programming + multi-neighborhood equity focus, funded through TAD bonds, federal grants, and philanthropy.
• Friends of the High Line: Manages the High Line, an elevated linear park in New York City built on a historic rail line. Closest comparable: a 501(c)(3) nonprofit stewarding a linear, multi-mile urban trail with community programming, federal/city funding, and tourism brand recognition - structurally and operationally analogous to JLG Partnership.
• Greening of Detroit: Detroit-based nonprofit focused on urban tree planting, vacant lot reclamation, and beautification. Directly comparable city-focused green-infrastructure nonprofit that overlaps with JLG's beautification pillar and shares the same funding ecosystem (Knight Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson, federal).
• Detroit Riverfront Conservancy: Nonprofit steward of Detroit's riverfront parks and trails, including direct geographic overlap with the Joe Louis Greenway's southern terminus. Directly comparable as a Detroit nonprofit managing publicly accessible urban trail/park infrastructure with programming and municipal partnership.
• Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy: Nonprofit managing a 1.5-mile linear park system of plazas, greenways, and public art in downtown Boston. Closely matches the JLG model: nonprofit stewardship of urban linear parkland with free programming, public art, and food-truck/vendor activation.
• Friends of the Riverfront / Indianapolis Cultural Trail: Nonprofit that built and now stewards the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, an 8-mile urban bike/pedestrian greenway featuring public art and trail amenities. Highly analogous funding and operating model, including federal grants and corporate partnerships.
• Bloomingdale Trail / The 606 (managed by Chicago Park District with Trust for Public Land partnership): A 2.7-mile elevated rail-trail in Chicago connecting four neighborhoods with parks, programming, and public art. Same model: nonprofit/public stewardship of an urban linear park with community-led programming and federal funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/jlgpartnership
• Facebookfacebook.com/jlgpartnership

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Joe Louis Greenway Partnership