City Of Detroit: Mayor Duggan Proposes Naming Detroit's Newest Greenway In Honor Of Former Mayor Dennis Archer

Press release from The City of Detroit:

2021-07-16

Mayor Duggan proposes naming Detroit’s newest greenway in honor of former Mayor Dennis Archer

• Construction of new greenway to wrap up later this year, connecting from the Detroit Riverwalk to Vernor Highway to the north.
• Naming greenway after Archer, who served from 1994 to 2001, will honor his legacy.

DETROIT – Mayor Mike Duggan announced today that he has introduced a resolution to City Council to name Detroit’s latest greenway the “Mayor Dennis W. Archer Greenway,” in honor of the former Detroit mayor.

Ground was broken at the end of 2019 on initial phases of the greenway, which opened to the public last year. Construction began in October on the final phase, extending the greenway from East Jefferson to Robert Bradby Drive. The greenway provides pedestrian-friendly access to amenities in between McDougall and Chene streets and runs along the formerly vacated Joseph Campau Street between Jefferson and East Vernor Highway. By the end of this year, the $4.9-million, 1.2-mile greenway will run from the Detroit Riverwalk to Vernor Highway, connecting more neighborhoods safely to Detroit’s internationally acclaimed riverfront.

“Mayor Archer deserves to be honored for what he has done for this city,” Mayor Duggan said. “Having this gem on the east side named for such a prominent eastsider is the least we can do for such a tireless advocate and champion of Detroit. On behalf of all Detroiters, I want to thank him for his service to this city.”

With the first phase complete, the greenway is already providing Detroiters recreational opportunities and will soon provide improved connections to the Coleman A. Young Recreation Center, schools, and recent improvements that the City has made to nearby tennis and basketball courts. The greenway project includes new pathways, streetscape improvements and more. The project was funded through federal community development block grants (CDBG) and road bonds. Construction of the multi-year investment has been managed by the City’s Planning & Development and Housing & Revitalization departments, Department of Public Works, and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation.

By the end of 2021, the $4.9-million, 1.2-mile greenway will run from the Detroit Riverwalk to Vernor Highway, connecting more neighborhoods safely to Detroit’s internationally acclaimed riverfront.

The greenway will be managed by the City’s General Services Department and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

“I would like to thank Mayor Duggan and the City of Detroit,” Archer said. “I love this city, and to be recognized in this way is something I am incredibly proud of. This greenway, in many ways, is the continuation of the work we started two decades ago in improving the quality of life for Detroiters and bringing new life and vibrancy to our community. You may recall the first leg of what is now called the Riverwalk, stretching from Joe Louis Arena to Hart Plaza, was dedicated during the celebration of Detroit’s 300th birthday. To be associated with such a beautiful piece of the city’s continuing comeback is a great honor.”

Among the features of the new greenway:

• A 10-foot shared use path for pedestrians and cyclists
• Play opportunities and recreation features
• New benches
• Outdoor power stations
• Mile markers
• Green stormwater infrastructure to prevent flooding
• Raised sidewalks have been installed across Larned and Lafayette, in addition to the entryways and landscaping, to calm traffic near the greenway.
• New security features, with cameras and emergency call boxes installed every 500 feet
• New and improved lighting

The greenway includes pathways, streetscape features, green stormwater infrastructure and more.

“The City is grateful for its partnership with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy on this project, and for sharing our goal of providing better recreational opportunities to Detroiters and connecting residents to the Detroit Riverfront,” said Katy Trudeau, acting director of the Detroit Planning & Development Department. “With the completion of the new greenway on the horizon, the City is thrilled to formally name it in honor of Mayor Archer.”

“The Mayor Dennis W. Archer Greenway will provide eastside residents with convenient and safe access to the riverfront along a beautiful, winding pathway,” said Mark Wallace, president and CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.  “It’s the latest example of new and improved connectivity along the East Riverfront, and we are excited that this greenway will help even more residents experience the best Riverwalk in the country.”

A career of serving Detroit
Archer was born and spent much of his life living on the city’s east side, and still does today. He served as mayor from 1994 to 2001. During his two terms, he played a leading role in a number of key developments and accomplishments. Among them, he negotiated the land acquisition for the construction of Comerica Park, helping keep the Detroit Tigers downtown; bringing three casinos downtown, helping to bolster City coffers; sparked Detroit Lions’ move back downtown from Pontiac;  spurring reinvestment in the city, including the construction of what was then the world headquarters for Compuware on a long vacant block on Campus Martius (known today as One Campus Martius); he balanced the budget; and he secured $100 million in federal empowerment funds for the struggling city.

He was named Public Official of the Year by Governing magazine in 2000, named one of the 25 most dynamic mayors in America by Newsweek magazine, and one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans by Ebony magazine.

Before being elected mayor, he taught at the Detroit College of Law and Wayne State University Law School and was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court, where he served from 1986 to 1990. After leaving public office, he became the first Black president of the American Bar Association, from 2002-03. He is currently chairman and CEO of Dennis W. Archer PLC and chairman emeritus of the Detroit-based law firm Dickinson Wright PLLC. Earlier in life, Archer worked as a teacher for disabled children in the Detroit Public Schools, meeting his wife, Trudy DunCombe, while teaching at Ralph Bunche school, which is located along the greenway. He also taught at Duffield school also on the east side.

This press release was produced by the City of Detroit. The views expressed here are the author’s own.