City of Detroit spending $45M to revitalize several recreation centers

Rec design
Photo credit WWJ/Ryan Marshall

DETROIT (WWJ) -- Several recreational buildings in Detroit will be getting a makeover soon after Mayor Mike Duggan announced it during his State of the City address last week.

On Thursday, March 17, Duggan said the City of Detroit will renovate, expand and reopen about a dozen rec centers across the city, including the Dexter-Elmhurst Community Center.

Dexter-Elmhurst Community Center design
Dexter-Elmhurst Community Center design Photo credit WWJ/Ryan Marshall

Recreational centers in some of the most underserved communities within the city will be focused on.

This project is expected to cost $45 million -- $30 million from American Rescue Plan Act funds, $10 million from general funds and $5 million from Roger Penske.

There are also plans to build a sports field house complex on the city's east side.

Rec center design
Photo credit WWJ/Ryan Marshall

Beyond the rec centers, the City said that the investment will be used towards transforming nearby vacant lots into parks, while also going after neglectful property owners in order to clear the streets of blight and make neighborhoods safer.

Rec center design
Photo credit WWJ/Ryan Marshall

WWJ's Ryan Marshall said that many of these centers had fallen in disrepair, but the funding will help bring these facilities back to life and also help revitalize the nearby communities.

Rec center design
Photo credit WWJ/Ryan Marshall

Here's the list of the recreation centers to undergo renovations:

• Dexter-Elmhurst Rec Center
• Chandler Park
• Farwell
• State Fair Band Shell
• Adams Butzel
• Coleman Young
• Butzel Family
• Heilmann
• Patton Rec Center
• Crowell
• Clemente
• Mini Libraries

Many of the projects will take years to finish. Most are slated to be done by 2022 or 2023.

Featured Image Photo Credit: WWJ/Ryan Marshall