Former Uniroyal site 6480 E. Jefferson Ave. In early May, groundwork began to create a new link to the RiverWalk pedestrian/bicycle path, which draws 3 million visitors annually. The link to the City-owned land known as the Uniroyal site will connect 3.5 miles of riverfront from Belle Isle on the east to just past the TCF Center on the west. The Uniroyal site has been one of the most toxic threats to the Detroit River. For decades, a massive tire plant operated there. Prior to that, the site was home to a number of heavy industrial facilities dating back to at least 1860. Before work on the RiverWalk could begin, a 7-foot thick barrier had to be built to ensure toxins in the ground didn’t seep into the river.