DETROIT – A Metro Detroit community center that has been closed for four years is preparing to reopen.
One block from where the riots of ‘67 started, you will find the historic Joseph Walker Williams Community Center on Rosa Parks Boulevard. It’s a place many families in Detroit’s Virginia Park neighborhood described as a community hub.
“When it shut down, it was really devastating to our community,” said Julian Witherspoon, III.
The community center shut down during COVID in 2020 and has remained closed to the public.
“It stopped a lot of us from coming together,” Witherspoon said. “A lot of the seniors used this center.”
Now, after four years, Detroit is preparing to reopen the site.
A small group of longtime community members joined on Thursday (March 14) for a sneak peek and mini tour inside the Joseph Walke Williams Community Center.
Detroit’s Construction and Demolition Department staff spent the past 10 months working on renovations and upgrades throughout the building.
Workers have replaced walls, updated community rooms, refurbished dance room floors, and updated arts and crafts spaces.
“It’s so much brighter in here,” said Valerie Kokoszka.
New equipment has come in for the center’s Olympic-sized pool. The entire gym floor has been redone, and new lighting has been installed.
Upstairs, neighbors were excited to see a new dance floor in the large multi-purpose room, among other enhancements.
“I understand the importance and significance of this type of community engagement and opportunities for the community,” said LaJuan Counts, Director of Detroit’s Construction and Demolition Department.
Significant upgrades have also been made to the center’s parking lot.
Counts said, “Once we finish our piece, we hand it off to the department, and the department makes those final plans to actually open up. So, not to steal their thunder. They get to have their big opening. But for us, it’s about to be the end portion for us. So, we get to sunset our project.”
The Construction and Demolition crew is wrapping up their portion of the work and preparing to pack up their tools.
Meantime, neighbors said they are eager to see the Joseph Walker Williams Community Center reopen.
“It’s almost like the movies, as it’s coming soon,” Venita Thompkins said with a smile.
Detroit will announce a formal reopening date and schedule for the Joseph Walker Williams Community Center. The center’s new Supervisor, Janee Ayers, said community members can expect special grand opening programs and events to be scheduled during Juneteenth.