City of Detroit is investing $45 million to renovate and reopen recreation centers
Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Detroit Keith Flournoy says the city will purchase the Dexter-Elmhurst Recreation Center. It will be the largest project, with $8.5 million being used for renovations.
The City of Detroit is investing $45 million to renovate eight recreation centers and open three more.
The money includes $30 million from the city’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act fund, $10 million in general funds and $5 million from businessman and auto racing legend Roger Penske.
Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Detroit Keith Flournoy says community recreation centers were important in his upbringing.
“So to come back and be a part of that, and to be able to provide programming for the community that as we try to rebuild that area, I think it’s going to be — it is to me — it’s huge, and it’s key, and is needed.”
Flournoy says the city will purchase and remodel the Dexter-Elmhurst Recreation Center, which is vacant and privately owned. It will be the largest project, with $8.5 million being used for renovations. When completed in 2024, the center will include indoor sports facilities, community rooms and kitchen space for events and classes.
“This is a long time coming, I am so excited to see this development happening and rejuvenating our community,” said Helen Moore, longtime community advocate. “For decades, residents have advocated for a space to call their own, and today that dream is reality. The Dexter Elmhurst Community Center is the culmination of 30 years of advocacy for a dedicated space, resources, and programming for the residents of District 7.”
Eight locations are undergoing major upgrades and will reopen by June. Flournoy says the Brennan Pool will also reopen this summer at Rouge Park on the city’s west side.
He says more than 500 kids ages K-12 will receive free swimming lessons.
Flournoy says the pandemic created a perfect storm to allow the city to update facilities.
“And in the wake of tragedy with the pandemic, because the downtime and with the funding coming in, it provided a perfect opportunity for us to be able to do improvements on these facilities, which is something we probably would have been a different challenge, have we not been shut down, the songs come in, because then we’ve had to stop everything.”
For a list of the projects, go to the city’s website.
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
