Water Square station
| Company type | People Mover station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Headquarters | Detroit , United States |
Area served | Downtown Detroit, Michigan |
| Products | Public transit service |
Water Square station—previously known as Joe Louis Arena and later West Riverfront—is a stop on the Detroit People Mover located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. Positioned along Steve Yzerman Drive, directly opposite the former site of Joe Louis Arena, it is situated near the junction of 3rd Street and Jefferson Avenue, where M-10 terminates. This station provides access to prominent nearby locations such as the Downtown campus of the Wayne County Community College District and the Detroit Riverwalk.
History
Constructed initially to serve the Joe Louis Arena, which was the home venue for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings until 2017, the station was equipped with expansive concrete ramps and a pedestrian bridge that directly connected to the arena entrance, facilitating crowd movement during events. Although the arena and its connecting bridge were demolished in 2019, two enclosed skybridges still link the station to both the Riverfront Towers residential buildings and the former parking structure of the arena.
Service on the People Mover was halted on March 30, 2020, as a result of decreased ridership caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a system-wide restart, operations resumed on May 20, 2022, at which time the station adopted the name West Riverfront. Later, on July 23, 2025, it was renamed Water Square to reflect its association with the ongoing Water Square Development project located on the former arena grounds, centered around Residences Water Square tower. Exterior refurbishment planned for 2026 will be funded through a contribution from Sterling Group, the developer responsible for Water Square.
Public art
The station platform displays an iridescent Venetian glass mosaic titled Voyage, created by artist Gerome Kamrowski. This artwork harmonizes with the station’s orange tile color scheme and incorporates themes inspired by mythology and astrology.