Voters in Waterford Township to Decide on New Community Center
Waterford Township folks are in for an important decision this November. They’ll be voting on a $$$36-million bond. The big plan is to buy a 51-acre slice from the Highland Lakes campus owned by Oakland Community College (OCC). And then, guess what? They want to turn it into a community and recreation center. Both the township’s board of trustees and the college’s board of trustees have given a thumbs-up to this plan since May.
Here’s how it’ll work: the 51-acre part of the campus on Cooley Lake Road will be sold to the township for $2.8 million. But that’s only on the condition that voters approve the bond proposal this fall. For the first year, the millage rate to pay the proposed bonds is estimated to be 0.8492 mills. After that, it’ll drop to around 0.7587 mills. This is all to retire the bond’s debt.
Now, if the bond gets approved, we’re looking at an increase in taxes for the average Waterford home by around $96 a year. And that’s going to last for 20 years.
The township made an unsuccessful attempt to build a new community center back in 2018. The existing rec center is not in its best shape and has worsened since then. An approval on the bond this fall means a possibility for a much-needed new community and recreation center.
The plan for Waterford Township, home to about 39,400 good folks, is to get hold of four buildings – High Oaks Hall and Levinson Hall, which are in use for classes; plus, the physical education building, and the student center. Two of these will be revamped into a recreation center and athletic gymnasium. One will be torn down to make room for parking. What happens to the fourth one is still being figured out.
Just so you know, the entire OCC Highland Lakes campus will be closing its doors in the fall of 2026. OCC plans to move the programs currently on the Highland Lakes campus to another location by the end of 2026.
The new community center will provide spaces for community clubs to meet and hold events. There’ll also be an outdoor space for youth and adult recreation and concerts. And there’s even a plan to connect it to the nearby Hess Hathaway Park. The latter is likely to see an upgrade for its ballfield and a new set of pickleball courts, replacing the old tennis courts.
Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER
The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
