Through the collaborative efforts of Ypsilanti Township, Superior Township, and Washtenaw County, a new community center will soon be coming to Southeast Michigan.
Eastern Washtenaw Community and Recreation Center will be built on the current site of the vacant Cheney Elementary School.
The elementary school, which is located on 1500 Stamford Road, hasn’t been in use since 2012 after a reconsolidation with Willow Run School Board. Now, over a decade later, the space will be revitalized as a multifaceted center for community members of all ages.
“We’re really planning on a cradle, as-you-age, facility, that is affordable for all different levels of the community, [and] accessible regardless of ability, income, or geography,” said Crystal Campbell, the Public Information Officer for Washtenaw County. “We’re really planning for a state of the art recreation and community center.”
Demolition of the elementary school is underway, and will continue through the end of the year. It is not known when construction on the facility will begin.
The plans for the recreation center have changed over the years. First it was proposed to be built near the Water Street area in Ypsilanti, then there were discussions of it becoming a YMCA. But this iteration of the center has been finalized with a $600,000 purchase of the elementary school from Washtenaw County, and a 9-0 ratifying vote from the Board of Commissioners. On top of that, nearly $30 million in funding has been secured from different local, state, and federal entities.
“We’ve got a lot of momentum right now, and it’s propelling this project forward. We are committed to seeing this project through to fruition and making sure that it is sustainable, fiscally and environmentally. And, that we really develop a community hub on that side of Washtenaw County,” Campbell said.
While specific amenities of the center are not known, Campbell says that many resources will reflect the needs of the community, learned through their extensive community engagement work. This was done through surveys and focus groups that included those living near the center.
“When those plans are ready, they will be very much a duplication of some community engagement, so we can make sure what the community needs and wants aligns with what we’ve designed,” Campbell said.
Through community engagement, surveyors discovered that the most urgent needs included daycare facilities, supplemental education programs, and general community meeting spaces. Amenities such as a pool and workout equipment have also been proposed.
Campbell believes that this facility could be life-changing for Washtenaw County residents, and describes it as a “win, win, win” for the community.
“In addition to the [Ypsilanti Public] library that’s there, the multi-family housing that’s there, we’re anticipating a community hub that will have an impact on everyone—from young people to the elderly to working folks," Campbell said. "And it really is in response to what we’ve heard from community members all across that region of Washtenaw County."
Residents can follow the progress of the center when the new Washtenaw County website launches on Dec 17. A page on the site will be dedicated to showing timelines, updates, board actions, and more. If community members have further questions, Campbell encourages them to email ewcrc@washtenaw.org.
