| In This Issue... ●Volunteers Needed for Rouge Park Appreciation Day Sat. May 18
●Rhythm & Rouge 2024 - Free community concert featuring local artists & organizations ●Cherry Orchard Planted in Rouge Park! - 105 trees planted April 6! ●Earth Day Clean Up Recap - Over 40 volunteers help clean up and remove invasives ●Vernal Pond Study Recap - What's in the water?
●Ephemeral Flowers and Stewardship - Updates! ●Upcoming Events |
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The Friends of Rouge Park Mission: To protect, restore, and promote a natural, environmentally healthy, and culturally vibrant Rouge Park that engages the community for the benefit and enjoyment of all. We can't do it without your support! |
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Volunteer for Rouge Park Appreciation Day |
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You are invited to join us for Rouge Park Appreciation Day on May 18th from 9am to 1pm. This is our largest clean up of the year, and an exciting opportunity for us to come together as a community and give back to our most cherished park. Our primary focus for the day will be on environmental stewardship with a choice of either: Trash Clean Up: Let's roll up our sleeves and work together to rid Rouge Park of litter and debris. By cleaning up the area, we not only beautify the park but also protect wildlife and promote a healthier environment for all. Invasive Species Removal: Invasive plants disrupt the natural balance of ecosystems, crowding out native species and causing harm to the environment. By removing invasive species, we can help restore the park's biodiversity and preserve its natural beauty. Help us make Rouge Park Appreciation Day a success by spreading the word to friends, family, and neighbors. The more hands we have on deck, the greater impact we can make together! Free lunch will also be served to all volunteers. We can't wait to see you on May 18th as we come together to show our love for Rouge Park and make a positive difference in our community. |
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Get ready to groove because we're thrilled to announce our upcoming Rhythm & Rouge Concert on June 22nd from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm! Join us for an evening of music, community, and fun under the stars at Rouge Park. Featuring Local Artists: We're excited to showcase the incredible talent of our local music scene with performances by Jodye Watts & Untitled., Ruby Flwrs, and Kris LaMarr & The High Octane Hitters. From soulful melodies to infectious beats, these artists promise to keep you grooving all night long. Open Mic Segment: Calling all artists! We're offering an open mic segment where you can showcase your talent to the community. Submit your performance for a chance to take the stage and share your artistry with fellow music lovers. Free Food and Vendor Fair: Indulge your taste buds with delicious offerings from Jay & Mani's Pizza, and be sure to explore our vendor fair featuring organizations such as the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network, Cody-Rouge Community Action Alliance, US Forest Service, Detroit Outdoors, Black To The Land Coalition, and Detroit Zoo. It's a fantastic opportunity to learn more about these valuable community resources and initiatives. Stay Connected: For the latest updates and announcements about the Rhythm & Rouge Concert, be sure to follow us on Instagram @friendsofrougepark. We'll be sharing sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes moments, and more leading up to the event! |
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Cherry Orchard Planted in Rouge Park!!! |
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Rouge Park's new cherry orchard and native fruit and nut trail was planted on Saturday April 6 thanks to funding from the USDA Forest Service, the Inflation Reduction Act and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program. On Saturday April 6, 230 volunteers planted 105 trees under the direction of our partner, Greening of Detroit. On the west side of Rouge Park Drive south of Plymouth Road, we planted 25 sweet cherry trees and 25 tart (pie) cherry trees (see below). A wood chipped walking path will be added this spring to connect to the paved path along Plymouth Road.
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On the east side of Rouge Park Drive, a mix of native fruit and nut trees will provide shade along the paved trail from Plymouth south to the Growing Together Sculpture. Tree species include serviceberry, oak, sassafras, shagbark hickory, tulip tree and black cherry. The serviceberry have beautiful white blossoms in early spring followed by edible red fruits in the early summer. |
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The trees will add beauty to the park in the spring as well as provide fruit and nuts for wildlife as well as park goers. Planting an orchard in a park is part of a new movement to create "food forests" of edible plants, and is one way to make free food more available in our city that lacks access to healthy food.
These trees symbolize growth and hope for Rouge Park's future, providing shade and nourishment for generations. Let's continue to collaborate and create a vibrant, sustainable environment for all to enjoy. |
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Our Earth Day Clean Up on April 21st was a resounding success! With over 40 dedicated volunteers, we tackled trash and invasive species along Joy Road and removed invasive species in the Joe Prance Recreation Area. We also handed out 50 native trees provided by the Greening of Detroit. We had a nice showing of volunteers including ECO Journey Detroit (see photo below).
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Students from the Michigan Math & Science Academy (photo below) as well as Black to the Land's Forestry School worked to remove invasive shrubs in Joe Prance Recreation Area to prepare it for a new nature play area supported by the National Wildlife Federation.
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We're grateful for the support of our volunteers who came out to make a difference in our park. Your commitment to environmental stewardship is truly inspiring. A special thanks to the Greening of Detroit for providing our giveaway trees. These partnerships enhance our efforts to promote sustainability and beautify Rouge Park. |
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Vernal Pond Study in Rouge Park |
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Red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) |
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A vernal pond, also known as an ephemeral pool, is a seasonal pond that provides habitat for animals such as wood frogs, fairy shrimp, salamanders and toads. Vernal ponds often dry up in late summer, eliminating predators like fish, so these amphibians and macroinvertebrates thrive! We went out three times throughout the season to document two different vernal ponds in the southern section of Rouge Park, along the Ma'iingan Wildwood Trail. We partnered with Black to the Land’s Urban Forest School and the Arab American Musuem’s youth group to encourage young people come and participate in this community science activity.
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Vernal pond monitoring includes taking a handful of data points about the vernal ponds; from water temperature, area disturbances, local plant and animal species, and habitat etc. In our explorations we found species, such as fairy shrimp, that certify these spring wetlands are vernal ponds. We also found red-backed salamanders and some rare plant species like Nodding Rattlesnake Root. Establishing the species present in an ecosystem is a core component of protecting them under the conservation model of land management. In a time in which the last presidential administration debased the Clean Water Act to exclude ephemeral wetlands like vernal ponds and the current administration has been tapping oil wells in public parks, this work of establishing the diversity and ecological value of wetlands like vernal ponds has never been more important. Join us next year! |
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Ephemeral Flowers and Stewardship |
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Yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) and white trout lily (Erythronium albidum) blooming in early spring |
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April showers bring May flowers, but those who wait for May might miss the fleeting beauty of spring ephemerals! Ephemeral, meaning lasting for a very short time, perfectly describes these delicate blooms that emerge as early as March, coinciding with the first calls of spring frogs. These woodland ephemerals capitalize on the narrow window between March and April when trees have yet to fully leaf out. By the time common garden flowers like daffodils and tulips bloom, the ephemerals have already painted the landscape with their vibrant hues! spring beauties, dutchman's breeches, cutleaf toothwort, and trout lilies burst forth alongside trees such as red maples, dogwood, serviceberries, and plums, each offering its own breathtaking display of early spring fecundity. Amidst this natural splendor, the showy yet invasive callery pear, also known as Bradford pear, makes its presence known. To combat its spread, we coordinated several removal efforts, successfully eliminating around 85 of these trees from the park with the help of friends. Throughout the spring, we organized various workdays, focusing on the Ma'iingan Wildwood Trail, Sorensen Recreation Area, the prairie, and the vicinity of vernal pools just north of Warren. This year, amidst Rouge Park's overpopulation of deer, we were fortunate to stumble upon a few rare trilliums. Unfortunately, these iconic spring flowers have been decimated by deer browsing. Trilliums, often dubbed the "princesses of the spring forest," require 7-10 years and four distinct life stages before blooming, producing seed pods rich in fat and energy—unfortunately irresistible to deer. We're hopeful that the city and neighboring municipalities will prioritize deer culls in the near future to restore balance to the ecosystem. In addition to native ephemerals, non-natives like snowdrops, Siberian squill, and woodland forget-me-nots contribute to the vibrant tapestry of early spring life. As May arrives, so do a plethora of flowers: redbud trees, wild strawberries, wild ginger, hawthorns, magnolias, garlic mustard, marsh marigolds, wild geraniums, violets, buttercups, and crabapples. Once the familiar sights of iris, lilacs, and roses emerge, signaling the end of spring ephemerals, even invasive species like honeysuckle begin to flower, marking the transition into a new season. As the canopy fills with leaves, the ephemeral season draws to a close, yielding to the reign of May flowers. |
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Spring Community Science Work |
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Rouge Park has taken part in two community science activities this past month! The first has been Friends of the Rouge's Frog and Toad Survey! We encourage you to join in the frog monitoring for next year! It’s a simple process, attend Friends of the Rouge's Frog and Toad Survey Training next February. You can learn frog and toad calls using an online app called Froggyvoice. So far only American Toads have been heard in Rouge Park. Have you heard any other species? The other community science activity has been vernal pond monitoring with Michigan Natural Features Inventory. |
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Visit the Edison Branch Library website here. See the complete list of upcoming events here. |
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Garlic Mustard Pull Friday May 17, 12-3pm
Mountain bike trail, Tireman and Outer Drive (map)
Help remove garlic mustard in preparation for RPAD volunteers to package this invasive but edible plant for making garlic mustard pesto.
Register
Rouge Park Appreciation Day
Saturday May 18 9am-1pm
SE corner of Joy and Spinoza (map)
Help clean up and restore Rouge Park at our biggest annual clean up of the year. Lunch provided for all volunteers.
Register Honeysuckle Happy Hour
Thursday May 23 4:30 -7:30 pm
Stone Bridge Trailhead (map)
Help remove invasive species.
Register Honeysuckle Happy Hour
Thursday May 30 4pm-7:30 pm
Prairie Pathway and Butterfly Garden (map)
Help remove invasive species.
Register
Sunday Yoga in the Park 9am-10 am
Starting Sunday June 2
Brennan Recreation Area next to the basketball courts (map)
Join Yoganic Flow every Sunday morning through September for yoga in the park.
Membership Meeting & Juneteenth Celebration
Tuesday June 18, 6-7:30 pm
Sorensen Recreation Area (map)
Join FORP for an update and celebration of Juneteenth Register
Rhythm & Rouge Concert & Open Mic
Saturday June 22nd 6pm-9pm
Brennan Recreation Area (map)
Free community concert
Register Butterfly and Prairie Walk
Sunday July 28, 2-3:30 pm
Prairie Pathway and Butterfly Garden (map)
Take a walk through Rouge Park's restored prairie and learn to identify butterflies, other pollinators and native prairie plants with Doris Applebaum, Stefanie Steele and Sally Petrella. Register
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