By: K. Michelle Moran
GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Grosse Pointe Farms swimmers have had to travel farther this summer — to parks in Grosse Pointe Woods or Grosse Pointe Park — to engage in their favorite sport. But by next summer, they’ll be enjoying new pools and a new bathhouse at Pier Park. Construction started when the ground thawed in spring 2026 on the multimillion-dollar project, which will include three pools — a competition pool with a diving board, a recreational pool with zero-depth entry and a larger tot pool, along with a new splash pad. “Things are moving along,” City Manager Shane Reeside said. “A lot has been done. We’re on schedule. We’re on budget. I think we’ve been fortunate with the weather.” The $14.798 million project will be paid for with a $4 million gift from the city’s nonprofit arm, the Grosse Pointe Farms Foundation, with general obligation bonds for the remainder. If residents are fearing a major hit to their wallet, officials say they should fear not. Part of the reason the city delayed this project was to allow for prior debt — for the Pier Park community building, constructed about 24 years ago, and the harbor expansion roughly 23 years ago — to come off the tax bills as those bonds were paid off, Reeside said. This project will be financed through the general fund via bonds and involves no special millage, he said. It’s expected to keep tax bills largely the same with the retirement of earlier debts. “We’re basically just trading debt, with a similar payment schedule” of about 20 to 25 years, Reeside said. The bathhouse will include a men’s, women’s and family restroom and changing area so that parents can accompany children and help them get ready. Reeside said there will also be a separate restroom adjacent to the beach that could remain open even when the pool is closed. He said the bathhouse will have a screened-in porch on the east side of the building with views of the Pier Park beach and harbor. “It’ll be a nice area to sit in the shade and take in Lake St. Clair,” Reeside said. The Blake Co. — which has been responsible for many other projects in the city, including the community building at Pier Park — designed the new bathhouse. “The advantage of having the same team is there’s going to be a lot of consistency in the architecture of the buildings,” Reeside said. That includes a cedar shake roof — although this time, it’s made of a new, more durable artificial material, Reeside said. Parents will be able to keep an eye on little ones in the children’s pool while also monitoring older kids in one of the other pools. “It’s a great project,” Director of Parks and Recreation Chris Galatis said. “It’s going to be a wonderful facility for our residents.” Even though considerable fundraising has already taken place, people can still contribute. “There’s still opportunities for donations for elements of the project,” Reeside said. Because of feedback from residents, city officials decided to retain a splash pad, albeit on a somewhat smaller footprint. “We found with the prior setup, the tot pool was undersized and the splash pad was not as heavily utilized,” Reeside said. The new facilities will meet modern accessibility standards. The bathhouse will also be air-conditioned for the first time, which Reeside said will help to control dampness. While construction schedules can be unpredictable due to weather and other unexpected snags, city officials are hoping to open the pools at the start of the 2027 summer swim season. “The goal is to be open next Memorial Day weekend,” Galatis said. Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.
