DETROIT
People entering the Rothstein Park on Family Fun Day at the JPM Jewish Community Center.
Groundbreaking At JPM
fl
JENNIFER FINER
Jewish News Intern
W
hat began as a vi-
sion of several Jew-
ish community
members took a giant step
toward becoming reality
during Sunday's ground-
breaking ceremony at the
Jimmy Prentis Morris Jew-
ish Community Center in
Oak Park.
Marcy Feldman and Janet
Levine were especially mov-
ed by the ceremony. Thir-
teen years ago, they
organized the first meeting
of 40 area residents because
of a desire to build a pool at
the JPM.
"This is like a surreal
day," said Ms. Feldman.
"We have been working on
this for 13 years and at times
we thought we were the only
ones. It's wonderful to know
when you believe in some-
thing and you work at it, it
can happen. This is a dream
come true for so many people
who live in this commun-
ity," she said.
They came Sunday from
all over the community,
hundreds of people of all
ages, to witness the ground-
breaking ceremony and par-
ticipate in festivities to
honor the milestone.
In addition to the
ceremony, a host of family
activities included music,
dancing, games and a JPM
photo exhibit.
Irwin Elson, president of
the Center and master of
ceremonies, hold the crowd,
"This moment is a culmina-
tion of years of dreams,
plans, and the work of hun-
dreds to bring us to this mo-
ment. There is a great need
for the expansion of this
facility. This neighborhood
is dynamic, diverse and
alive. The communities of
Oak Park, Southfield and
Huntington Woods are home
to more that half the Detroit
area Jewish population.
"We're not done, we're just
beginning," he continued.
"We need your promise and
commitment to continue us-
ing this facility and loving
the neighborhood," Mr.
Elson said.
Future parlor meetings
are being planned to raise
the final $681,243 necessary
to reach the $3.7 million
construction and operating
endowment goal.
Hugh Greenberg, chair-
man of the JPM Builders
Continued on Page 25
P hotos by G le nn Triest
Hundreds
attended last
Sunday's event
in Oak Park for
its history and
also because it
was a day of
fun.
Esther Crane (right) dances with Shelly Jackier.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
23