Shovels are officially in the ground at Taylor High School, where construction crews this week kicked off work on a revamped sports complex that will swap grass for artificial turf, overhaul baseball and softball fields, and resurface tennis courts on the Downriver campus. The project is the most visible piece of a voter-approved $130 million bond and is meant to give Taylor students facilities that measure up to what athletes see in neighboring districts. District leaders, families and coaches gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking, with staff noting the upgrades should make it easier to host tournaments and play more evening games.
What’s being built
The athletic overhaul calls for rebuilding or renovating the baseball and softball diamonds, resurfacing the tennis courts and installing a new artificial-turf field that will serve both football and soccer. As outlined by the Taylor School District, bids are complete and work on the fields is scheduled to start this spring, with contractor and design partners already in place. The district’s bond pages also feature renderings of an updated entry plaza and field amenities designed to support community events. Officials say the changes are aimed at improving safety, accessibility and year-round use.
The bond and the price tag
The $130 million bond package, approved by voters in November 2021, funds a slate of projects across the district, not just athletics. According to ClickOnDetroit, bond materials originally projected a first-year millage of about 3.64 mills, an increase of roughly 2.68 mills on top of an existing 0.96 mills. District leaders say planning work and changing market conditions have forced adjustments to both timing and project scope, but they view the athletic complex as a key early deliverable. Community members at the groundbreaking described the new fields as an investment in student retention and district pride.
Why a renovation, not a new high school
The bond’s ballot language initially authorized construction of a new high school and career center on the former Kennedy High School site, but rising costs and funding realities pushed the district to pivot toward renovating the existing Taylor High campus instead. The district’s bond presentation and legal materials show that the original vision called for a brand-new high school, demolition of the Kennedy site and a separate career center. Updated planning scaled some elements back to stay within the available budget. School officials say focusing on renovation now lets them deliver upgraded facilities sooner and with more predictable costs, even as some voters remain disappointed that a completely new high school is not happening right away.
Officials say the fields will boost hosting and pride
“We are here to finally give our students and our athletes the same opportunities they have in our neighboring districts,” Superintendent Michael Wegher told the crowd at the ceremony. Athletic Director Chris Simons said the new complex should help attract more tournaments, band competitions and community showcases to Taylor, while Principal Melissa Skopczynski framed the fields as symbols of opportunity and school pride. Those remarks and on-site reporting were documented by ClickOnDetroit.
Timeline and contractors
District materials list Sache Construction and Development as the construction manager, The Collaborative Group as project architect and Barton Malow as the district’s owner’s representative for the athletic projects. As detailed on the district’s bond page, field bids are finalized and crews are expected on site this spring to begin phased construction while other bond-funded work continues districtwide. Board and planning documents indicate the bond will be issued in multiple series to manage cash flow and respond to market conditions. Officials say they plan to keep posting renderings, progress photos and schedule updates on the district website as the project advances.
For Taylor students and families, district leaders say the new complex is meant to be more than a cosmetic upgrade. The goal is to create safer, more durable playing surfaces, expand opportunities to host events the district previously could not accommodate, and give athletes and spectators a facility that reflects the community’s investment. The first games played on the new turf will offer an early test of how quickly that investment translates into day-to-day benefits.
