# Friends of Elworthy

> Community campaign to ready Elworthy Field in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, for its 100th year.

Friends of Elworthy is organizing neighbors to finish improvements at Elworthy Field, 589 St. Clair Avenue, Grosse Pointe, Michigan, at the corner of St. Clair and Waterloo. A voter-approved GPPSS bond has secured $2.25 million for ten new tennis courts, fencing, and LED lighting, planned for summer 2027. The community goal is about $1.55 million. Giving is not open. The nonprofit is being formed. Sign up and you will be told when giving opens. Four donated paddle courts arrive November 19, 2026. Two will be installed at Elworthy.

## Key facts

- Plan cost: about $3.8 million
- Secured: $2,250,000 from the GPPSS bond, approved by voters on November 4, 2025
- Community goal: about $1.55 million
- Donations: not accepted yet. Giving opens when the nonprofit launches
- Next public meeting: Monday, November 9, 2026, 7:00 PM, Brownell Middle School, 260 Chalfonte Avenue, Grosse Pointe Farms. Elworthy is not on the agenda. Supporters speak during public comment
- Place: Elworthy Field, 589 St. Clair Avenue, Grosse Pointe, Michigan
- Who uses the park: tennis, platform tennis, seasonal pickleball, soccer, baseball, and the Rotary tot lot
- Organizer: Ian Studders, Grosse Pointe Park
- Pickleball: no dedicated courts. Multisport lines on Courts 9 and 10 allow four seasonal pickleball courts when district tennis seasons end
- Building cost depends on final scope, set with the City and the District

## What the bond covers

- Replace 10 tennis courts and fencing: $1,900,000
- LED lighting for 10 courts: $350,000

## What the community share covers

- Install 2 donated paddle courts: $250,000
- Refurbish 2 existing paddle courts: $60,000
- Water fountain and bottle filler: $15,000
- Seating: $10,000
- Signage and wayfinding: $10,000
- Community building with restrooms: $1,200,000

## Timeline

- November 2025: Voters approve the GPPSS bond
- October 19, 2026: A 50-signature petition at City Council. The Council's answer is how, not whether
- October 2026: Ann Arbor Platform Tennis Club donates four courts. Court design is underway
- November 9, 2026: Speak at the School Board
- November 19, 2026: Donated courts arrive
- Winter 2026–27: City support for the plan. Nonprofit launches
- Summer 2027: New tennis courts and LED lighting
- Elworthy at 100: Community building and new paddle courts

## Pages

- [Home](https://friendsofelworthy.org/): Campaign overview, cost, timeline, and common questions
- [About](https://friendsofelworthy.org/about/): Mission, plan, leadership, and timeline
- [Donate](https://friendsofelworthy.org/donate/): The community goal, and the fact that giving is not open yet
- [Get involved](https://friendsofelworthy.org/get-involved/): Volunteer, show up, and join the email list
- [History](https://friendsofelworthy.org/history/): One hundred years of Elworthy Field
- [Updates](https://friendsofelworthy.org/updates/): News from the campaign
- [November 9: speak up](https://friendsofelworthy.org/updates/nov-9-speak-up/): School Board public comment
- [Four courts are coming](https://friendsofelworthy.org/updates/four-courts-are-coming/): Donated paddle courts
- [Elworthy in the Grosse Pointe News](https://friendsofelworthy.org/updates/elworthy-in-the-grosse-pointe-news/): October 19 City Council
- [Soccer at Elworthy](https://friendsofelworthy.org/updates/soccer-upgrades/): Soccer-related upgrades

## Optional

- [2025 bond archive](https://friendsofelworthy.org/bond-2025/): The bond campaign after the vote
- [2025 bond FAQ archive](https://friendsofelworthy.org/bond-faq/): Questions about the approved bond
- [November 2025 vote archive](https://friendsofelworthy.org/vote-november-2025/): The election that funded the courts