City unveils West Side rec center's $750,000 renovation project

The Butzel Playfield at the Adams/Butzel Recreation Complex recently debuted $750,000 worth of improvements, including a 400-meter track with rubber surfacing, a play area with rubber protective surfacing, a picnic area, development of the west parking lot and replacement of the east fence line.

Although the work will primarily benefit outdoor uses of the 33-acre site, such as baseball and football, the parking lot improvements will be a boon to all who use the center, including hockey players and swimmers.

Detroit Recreation Department director Lawrence Hemingway says the entire center is one of the most active in the city. "I call it a mecca of programming," he says. "It is truly a phenomenal facility and we want to keep it going."

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the city of Detroit funded the improvements. Butzel is located at 10500 Lyndon at Meyers.

Source: Lawrence Hemingway, DRD
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

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