Detroit Schools Roll Out $34M Upgrade for Sports Facilities in 11 Schools

Detroit schools are investing $34 million to fix sports fields and pools at 11 sites. Officials announced the changes Tuesday as part of a bigger $700 million building plan.

"These investments reflect our commitment to fairness, excellence, and our unwavering belief in what our students deserve," said Dr. Nikolai Vitti, district superintendent, according to WXYZ.

The changes will bring artificial turf, new tracks, better seating, and pool fixes. At the old Cooley High location, work starts with a fresh sports hub - complete with a stadium, track, and training spaces for teams.

Seven sites need pool work. J.L White checks are done. Central, Henry Ford, Northwestern, Southeastern, Burton, and Marcus Garvey schools will finish pool updates by mid-2027. Pool work costs differ widely: J.L White needs $5,000 while Henry Ford requires $2.1 million.

Six schools await field upgrades. Henry Ford and Communication and Media Arts started last fall. They'll wrap up in 2026. Cass Tech's work runs from 2025 to 2027.

Three more schools - Central, Denby, and Southeastern - kick off field work in summer 2026. These projects should end by fall 2028. Each school's costs vary between $3.4 and $6.8 million.

School leaders approved the money last December. This fits into their bigger 20-year plan that began in 2019.

Burton and Marcus Garvey schools will get basic fixes - water, power, and machine repairs cost $350,000 each.