City of Saline Responds to $10M Pledge for Rec Center

The City of Saline responded Wednesday, June 6, to a $10 million private pledge announced earlier in the week by officials behind the Saline Township data center project, saying the funding will support major improvements and renovations at the Saline Recreation Center.

According to a city press release, the funding was made possible through support from Related Digital, OpenAI, Oracle, Blackstone Real Estate and Walbridge. The contribution is expected to support upgrades to aquatic facilities, childcare spaces and community rooms at the city-owned recreation center.

The recreation center serves residents of Saline and surrounding communities, and city officials said the improvements are intended to increase program capacity, improve safety and accessibility, better serve families and create more welcoming spaces for recreation, fitness and early childhood development.

“The City of Saline is grateful to announce a landmark $10 million private investment which will support significant improvements and enhancements to the Saline Recreation Center,” the city said in the release.

The announcement comes as city leaders continue efforts to address the recreation center’s long-term capital and operational needs. In recent years, officials have examined funding strategies and facility improvements aimed at ensuring the center’s long-term sustainability.

According to the city, using private funding for the improvements will allow municipal resources to remain available for other community priorities.

The Recreation Center Implementation Team, a committee composed of community stakeholders, will review and prioritize projects funded through the investment. The group will evaluate facility needs, community priorities, operational considerations and long-term sustainability before making recommendations on how the money should be spent.

Project selection and design work are expected to begin in the coming months. Additional details about specific projects and implementation timelines will be released as plans move forward, according to the city.

The funding announcement follows Monday’s celebration of The Barn AI data center project in Saline Township, where project leaders highlighted several community-benefit initiatives connected to the development. The recreation center investment was among the largest of those commitments.