The chain-link fences are up and heavy equipment is rolling onto the former Oakland Community College Highland Lakes campus on Cooley Lake Road, as Waterford Township finally starts construction on its long-planned multigenerational community center. The roughly 56,000-square-foot project is set to pull recreation and senior services under one roof while adding more gym space, indoor and outdoor courts, an amphitheater and a dog park. Voters signed off on a $36.4 million bond in November 2024 to buy the 51-acre site, and township officials say construction activity is expected to run into early 2028. Once it opens, the building is slated to host leagues, rentals, senior programming and a broader menu of health and wellness offerings.
Timeline and campus access
According to Waterford Township, construction fencing was scheduled to go up in mid-June 2026, with full site work expected to continue into early 2028. While the project is underway, access to the Highland Lakes campus from Cooley Lake Road will be shut down. Visitors headed to Levinson Hall are directed to use Marylestone Street, while all other campus traffic will be routed through the Hospital Road entrance. Township officials also note that the grassy area north of Cooley Lake Road will be closed to recreation, including dog walking, for the duration of the construction work.
What’s planned inside
Marketing and planning materials from Marcus & Millichap describe a 56,628-square-foot renovation that will expand gym space for programs, rentals and leagues while broadening recreation and senior services. The prospectus calls for indoor pickleball and table tennis, Meals on Wheels operations and enrichment classes geared toward older adults. Outside, plans include pickleball and basketball courts, a softball field, a community courtyard, an amphitheater and a dog park. The Oakland Press reports that construction crews have already moved onto the property to begin preparatory work this week.
Who’s building it and what’s next
Selection documents from Plante Moran Realpoint show that Waterford chose Plante Moran Realpoint as the owner’s representative, Neumann Smith as the design firm and Frank Rewold & Sons as the construction manager following a formal process in 2025. The team highlighted extensive municipal recreation experience and laid out early tasks such as securing the site and handling abatement work. Township materials indicate that demolition and phased renovation will follow site preparation through 2027 as the former college facilities are retrofitted for public use.
Funding and context
Voters approved the bond measure in November 2024 to acquire the 51-acre southern portion of the Highland Lakes campus, and Oakland Community College stated that the sale would allow the school to consolidate health-science programs at other locations while supporting community reuse of the property. In that announcement, Waterford Township Supervisor Gary Wall said the township was pursuing a plan that would be a benefit to the Township and our residents. With the land sale complete and funding in place, township leaders describe the center as a long-term community anchor intended to expand programming and services for residents of all ages. Officials say more detailed construction updates will be posted by township staff as the work moves forward.
