Neff Park clock tower repair timed to coincide with summer park opening

GROSSE POINTE CITY — An icon at Neff Park in Grosse Pointe City is getting repaired thanks to a personal gift from a city official.

Upon learning that funding wasn’t available in the budget, Grosse Pointe City Councilman Dave Fries offered to pay for a repair of the clock tower at Neff Park, which was no longer working.

“I would like to thank Councilman Fries for his generosity,” Mayor Sheila Tomkowiak said.

“I’m excited about fixing the clock,” Fries said during a March 18 Grosse Pointe City Council meeting. “The older I get, the more I realize the greatest gift is giving back.”

As part of its consent agenda, the Grosse Pointe City Council unanimously approved the low bid from Cincinnati-based The Verdin Co. to do the work for $6,375. Verdin was one of two bidders for the project. It is the firm that installed the clock originally and has maintained it over the years when needed.

“This is a very niche service, with limited companies providing this service,” Parks and Recreation Coordinator Rebecca Jenzen wrote in a March 18 memo.

“I thought it would be a wonderful thing when people come to that park to see that clock tower lighted and working,” Fries said after the meeting.

The clock tower is located on top of the building next to the pool. Its mechanism is 20 years old and it needs a new mechanism, Fries said. He said the clock will be lighted again as well once the work is done.

He hopes his gift inspires others to take similar actions.

“We’re trying to get people to think about giving back,” Fries said after the meeting. “We have to do what we can.”

Like Tomkowiak, Fries’ fellow council members also acknowledged his gift.

City Councilman Terence Thomas thanked Fries for his “generosity and service.”

“Thanks, Dave,” City Councilman Christopher Walsh said. “That was great.”

Fries said the clock tower is expected to be repaired by the time the pool opens for the season May 25.