from “le détroit” · the strait
Construction started June 26 on the approximately 25,000-sq-ft Brennan Community Center at Rouge Park, backed by $20M from Pistons owner Tom Gores, filling a gap that left District 7 as the only part of Detroit without an indoor rec center.
Construction broke ground at Rouge Park on the Brennan Community Center, an approximately 25,000-square-foot indoor facility that will be the first of its kind in Detroit's 7th District. It's the only district in the city that hasn't had one.
The $20 million project is funded by Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and the Gores Family Foundation. Completion is targeted for fall 2027.
Mayor Mary Sheffield joined residents, Pistons players, and project partners at the Cody Rouge ceremony. "For years, District 7 has been the only district in Detroit without an indoor community center for youth and families," Sheffield said. "This facility will provide young people, families and seniors with a safe, modern space to grow, stay active and connect with positive opportunities year-round."
District 7 covers Detroit's far west side, including Cody Rouge and the Rouge Park corridor. The area has had Brennan Pool for outdoor swimming in summer, but no indoor facility for year-round use. Residents who wanted indoor courts or programming have had to leave the district to find it.
The center will sit on the north side of Rouge Park off Plymouth Road, adjacent to Brennan Pool. The building includes multi-use sports courts for indoor athletics, community rooms and flexible programming spaces, and a kitchen for family gatherings, cooking classes, and community events.
Gores, who is also chairman and CEO of Platinum Equity, announced the project in June 2022. The idea grew from conversations within the Pistons organization, with players and staff talking about what Detroit neighborhoods needed. "Today is an exciting day because we're moving from vision to reality," Gores said Thursday. "This community deserves safe, welcoming spaces that inspire growth and possibility and remind people there are no limits to what they can achieve."
Beyond construction, Gores has pledged to work with the Pistons organization and its corporate and community partners to support programming and resources once the facility opens.
In the years between announcement and groundbreaking, the Pistons and the city held community meetings beginning in 2022 to gather resident input on design and priorities. Programming at the center was shaped by community engagement and resident input.
Construction runs through fall 2027. The Brennan center will be among the few indoor year-round facilities at Rouge Park on the city's far west side.
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