DETROIT – The Edison Boat Club charges $180 a year to be a member and members are also asked to volunteer 15 hours a year to help keep the place up.
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Many people said the place leveled the playing field, giving families access to a club they could call their own. After this summer, however, the Edison Boat Club will be closing.
The boat club is a century old and more recently has been for Detroit Edison employees who have been able to enjoy the river's edge in a very quiet and happy place.
Last week, DTE decided to close the place and the people who have been coming there for so long are disappointed.
"It's probably the best place in Detroit," Vanessa Gunter said.
DTE is going to demolish the buildings after finding it couldn't sell the land as it stands.
It's estimated it would cost about $1 million to replace the old boat club, money DTE isn't willing to spend.
DTE officials released the following statement:
"In 2018, DTE began demolition planning for its long-decommissioned Conners Creek Power Plant. During this process, we discovered infrastructure for the Edison Boat Club was connected to the Conners Creek Power Plant and would require significant investment to re-establish after the plant demolition, in addition to the other updates required for this 1914 legacy facility. As a result, regrettably, the Edison Boat Club will be demolished at the same time as Conners Creek. We understand that members are disappointed, but it is cost prohibitive to continue to maintain this facility."