Jewish Community Center in Suburban Detroit Will Close

Unable to overcome a financial shortfall, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit has decided to shutter its community center in Oak Park, MI.

The federation, which also operates a Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield Township, MI, says an overall $1.3 million JCC budget deficit is forcing the decision to close the Oak Park facility. The JCC will cease operating the facility by Aug. 31. However, the federation is seeking an entity to take over operating the facility. 

“The objective of this search is to find an operator who will maintain an inclusive community facility that continues to serve the Jewish population in the area with programming by the JCC and other Jewish community organizations,” the federation says.

Officials have been seeking ways to close the budget deficit without closing the Oak Park site, but “there have been no adequate solutions or funding sources identified,” the federation said.

“This action will eliminate at least $800,000 in annual loss and would be a critical step—along with ongoing changes at the West Bloomfield facility—toward ensuring that the organization can continue serving our Jewish community,” the federation said in a statement announcing the closure.

The Oak Park facility was built in the late 1950s. It has an Olympic-size swimming pool, a health club, summer camps, classes, babysitting services and cultural programming.