Dearborn Public Pools To Get Major Upgrades For First Time In 70 Years

DEARBORN, MI — Three Dearborn public swimming pools will be upgraded for the first time since they were built in the 1950s, according to city officials.

The renovation project is part of a $5,371,430 contract that councilmembers unanimously passed last week to rehaul public pools and bathhouses at Ten Eyck, Lapeer and Summer Stephens parks. Work is expected to begin in May, according to city officials.

"With more pools per capita than any other city in Michigan, Dearborn’s aquatic facilities are a staple of our community. For countless Dearborn families - including my own - summer memories are made at the City’s community pools. This monumental project will bring our pools into the 21st century, making them safer and more accessible to ensure that every Dearborn resident has a positive, memorable experience at our neighborhood pools," Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud said.

Crews will cover the replacement of all neighborhood pool filtration and circulation systems, remove and re-pour pool decks and ensure that all pools are accessible and compliant for all patrons, according to city officials.

The project also includes constructing infrastructure to bring all equipment from the basement to the ground level, making it safer for City staff to complete standard operations and maintenance at each pool.

The project is funded by the City’s Park Equity and Access for Citizen Engagement (PEACE) Project, a $6 million grant award administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Key Construction, a Dearborn-based company, will manage renovations of the pools.

"Dearborn’s community pools are a beloved jewel and long-standing legacy in our city. We look forward to these much-needed renovations so our residents, visitors, and staff can enjoy these amenities next season and for many more years to come," Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation Sean Fletcher said.

Aside from basic repairs, modifications and aesthetic implementations, Dearborn’s neighborhood pools last saw significant structural and mechanical upgrades in the 1950s, shortly after the pools were first constructed and open to the public, according to city officials.

Ten Eyck was completed in September 1954, followed by Lapeer in October 1954. Summer Stephens was completed in May 1956 and retains its original facade.

Neighborhood pools will be temporarily unavailable to the public during renovations

While Ten Eyck, Summer Stephens, and Lapeer pools undergo construction this year, Dunworth and Ford Woods pools and the City’s four splash pads will remain open for residents to enjoy throughout the 2024 swim season while Ten Eyck, Summer Stephens, and Lapeer pools undergo construction. Dunworth and Ford Woods pools and all City splash pads are currently scheduled to open on Saturday, May 25.

Adults and seniors with proof of Dearborn residency can purchase pool tags for admittance to Dunworth and Ford Woods pools this summer at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center service desk, 15801 Michigan Ave.

Children ages 13 and under can swim at City of Dearborn pools free of charge, thanks to an initiative introduced by Mayor Hammoud in 2022.

For more information about Dearborn’s community pools and pool tag admissions, visit DearbornFordCenter.com or call 313-943-2350.