Michigan Municipal League: The Review Magazine Jan-Feb 2023 Edition

1675 Green Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105

FINALIST Excellence Award COMMUNITY

2022

City of Farmington Hills Community Center–The Hawk In 2018, the City of Farmington Hills purchased Harrison High School from the Farmington Public Schools for $500,000. The city identified the shuttered, former school as an opportunity to preserve and build upon a facility that was constructed and maintained with millions of taxpayer dollars over its 50-year existence. The city has invested about $25 million into repurposing the former school into the Farmington Hills Community Center—The Hawk, taking out a municipal bond to fund the project. The project focused on three main goals: 1) maintain the existing amenities in the school that the community valued, 2) build new amenities not currently available in the community, and 3) preserve the legacy of Harrison High School. In June 2021, The Hawk officially opened to the public. This innovative 245,000 square foot community center and 45-acre park now provides a hub for residents and guests to enjoy visual and performing arts, aquatics, fitness, and athletics along with many other recreational services, programs, and events.