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Harper Woods council approves Salter Park dome despite cost and durability concerns
Summary
The Harper Woods City Council approved $325,047 in additional services to Hannah Architects to advance a 8,540-square-foot air-structure dome at Salter Park, citing an imminent ARPA grant deadline. Some council members warned about long-term operating costs, site suitability and loss of community input.
The Harper Woods City Council on Dec. 1 approved a resolution to pay Hannah Architects $325,047 for additional services to deliver an air-structure dome at Salter Park, moving forward with a project officials said is fully funded by grants but faces future operating and siting questions.
Council members and project representatives described the dome as roughly 70 feet by 122 feet and 32 feet tall (about 8,540 square feet) with two offices, storage, restrooms and a full-size basketball court. City staff said the project’s equipment and mechanical systems would be procured through an assembly/installation company and that federal Davis-Bacon Act requirements would guide contractor selection.
Supporters said the dome would provide a permanent indoor space for Parks & Recreation employees who currently operate from a trailer, and that not using the grant now could mean losing ARPA funds the city must spend by June 30, 2026. “We will have something that would be able to house a recreational department and also be able to accommodate our community,” an elected official supporting the measure said during debate.
Opponents questioned the shift from an earlier brick-and-mortar plan, and one council member urged the city to seek a grant extension and pursue the original phased brick-and-mortar design. A council member who reviewed prior community meetings said the design the public saw in 2023 came from AEW and was intended to be staged, and argued the project “exploded” in cost from the original estimate.
A council member who had spoken with planners involved with Detroit’s larger Chandler Park dome warned of high operating costs and maintenance issues, noting needs such as backup generators, multiple HVAC systems, additional security and labor to remove snow from the dome surface. City representatives said the selected dome kit includes a generator, thermal liner, gutters and pressurization systems intended to address many of those concerns.
The resolution passed on a roll-call vote: Councilwoman Foster — Yes; Councilwoman LaPratt — No; Mayor Pro Tem Sawicki — No; Councilwoman Toussaint — Yes; Councilwoman Williams — Yes; Mayor Bridal — Yes; Councilwoman Constantino — Yes. Council members supporting the measure said the purchase is covered by grant funding from the state of Michigan, Wayne County and prior budget allocations and that no additional city funds are required to buy the dome unit. City staff also said the city has identified roughly $2.4 million in funding to cover the structure and procurement of materials.
Next steps include finalizing the procurement of a general contractor familiar with federal and state contracting rules and bringing vendor agreements for the city manager’s signature. Council members asked for continued monitoring of operational costs and for staff to pursue available operational grants to offset long-term expenses.
The resolution is intended to keep the project moving within the grant timeline; staff said failing to act could jeopardize the ARPA-funded portion of the project.
