| In This Issue... ●FORP Joins DPC in Defense of Detroit Trails ●Rhythm & Rouge 2024 - Free community concert featuring local artists & organizations
●General Membership Meeting - Get Rouge Park updates and celebrate Juneteenth
●Free Sunday Yoga in the Park is back ●DPC Summer Program Kickoff - Summer programs coming to the Brennan Pool area ●Rouge Park Appreciation Day Recap - 225 volunteers clean up Rouge Park ●Honeysuckle Happy Hour Updates - Stonebridge Trailhead & North Prairie Trailhead
●Upcoming Events - Lacrosse, Bat Listening, Senior Picnic, Bus tour, Butterfly Walk & more!
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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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FORP Joins DPC in Defense of Detroit Trails |
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Detroit, including Rouge Park, has many beautiful and safe trails with more and more coming online. Yet Michigan Trails Magazine left out any mention of Detroit trails in their 2024 catalog of the state's non-motorized trails. According to the Publisher, Michigan Trails Magazine could no longer recommend Detroit trails to readers because: "They will simply become more easy prey for Detroit’s criminals. I would be doing Detroit’s criminals a big favor sending more easy money their way." (Detroit Greenways Coalition conversation). Yet, they freely list a Macomb County trail that had a murder. The Detroit Parks Coalition, a group of Detroit park leaders that FORP works with to support parks in the City, were outraged and raised the issue and the Friends of Rouge Park signed onto to an Op-Ed in the Detroit News. |
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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, Kris LaMarr & The High Octane Hitters, and Lex the Radical. From soulful melodies to infectious beats, these artists promise to keep you grooving all night long. Survey Giveaway: Your feedback on how we can make the park better and what types of programs you would like to see is very important to us. Thanks you our friends from the Detroit Zoo, we will be doing a drawing for a family of 4 pass to the Detroit Zoo. All you have to do is fill out a survey at our table and you will be entered into a drawing that will be announced before the end of the event. 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. |
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Join us for a special evening of community, celebration, and empowerment at the Friends of Rouge Park's General Membership Meeting & Juneteenth Celebration! Located at the Sorensen Recreation Area picnic shelter (map).
Details: Come gather with fellow Rouge Park enthusiasts to stay informed on all the latest updates about Rouge Park. Learn how you can become a member and play a vital role in preserving this cherished natural haven. Discover exciting ways to get involved and make a difference!
Snacks and refreshments will be provided to keep your energy high as we come together in fellowship and solidarity. Let's honor the spirit of Juneteenth by celebrating freedom, unity, and the beauty of our shared natural heritage.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect, engage, and inspire positive change within our community! |
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FREE Sunday Yoga is Back in Rouge Park |
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FORP and the Detroit Parks Coalition are once again partnering with Yoganic Flow to offer outdoor yoga sessions that will lead you through some simple stretches, meditations and poses that will help you release stress and get back in touch with your body. No experience is necessary for these free classes offered next to the basketball court at the Brennan Recreation Area every Sunday at 9:00 am through September. You do need to bring your own yoga mat. |
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DPC Summer Program Kickoff |
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The Detroit Parks Coalition Summer Program Kickoff on May 22 was a spirited gathering of representatives from parks all across the city, united in their mission to launch an exciting array of summer programs. In collaboration with the Pistons Neighbors Program, we're thrilled to announce a lineup of engaging activities aimed at fostering community connections and promoting healthy, active lifestyles. At Rouge Park, the heart of our summer programming beats near Brennan Pools, where families and friends can come together to enjoy a variety of enriching experiences. Here's a glimpse of what's in store (all events at the Brennan Recreation Area-map): Mondays: - 3-4 pm: Dive into the world of tennis and sharpen your skills on the court.
- 5-6 pm: Discover the thrill of lacrosse and unleash your competitive spirit in friendly matches.
Wednesdays: - 3-4 pm: Serve, volley, and return with tennis sessions that promise fun and fitness for all.
- Plus, enjoy the bounty of Eastern Market with free produce available during this time!
- 5-6 pm: Channel your inner warrior with martial arts classes that promote discipline and self-confidence.
Fridays: - 3-4 pm: Shoot hoops and perfect your dribble in exciting basketball sessions.
- 5-6 pm: Unleash your creativity with arts and crafts activities that inspire imagination and expression.
- 6-7 pm: Get moving and grooving with hustle classes, where you can learn new dance moves and burn some calories while having a blast.
With something for everyone, our Summer Program Kickoff promises to be a season of fun, learning, and community bonding. We can't wait to see you at Rouge Park as we embark on this journey of summer adventures together! More details here. |
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Rouge Park Appreciation Day Recap |
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Our 22nd Annual Rouge Park Appreciation Day was an absolute success, thanks to the incredible efforts of over 225 dedicated volunteers! Together, we rolled up our sleeves to clean up and beautify Rouge Park, and the impact was truly remarkable. Members from Americorps, the City of Detroit, Motor City Magnet Fishers and the Detroit AeroModelers joined forces to support this vital cause. The site was also one of the city's Motor City Makeover site. We tackled various tasks throughout the park, including cleaning up Joy Road, Al's Creek, Tamara's Garden, our newly planted Cherry Orchard, and our Ma'iingan Wildwood Trail. From trash clean-up to invasive species removal and even metal fishing out of the Rouge River, our volunteers left no stone unturned in their mission to restore and preserve this precious natural sanctuary. Special shoutout to those who participated in garlic mustard packaging using these invasive plants pulled straight from the park! But it wasn't all work and no play! The day was filled with uplifting music, and our hardworking volunteers were treated to delicious burgers, hot dogs, and other snacks and refreshments as a token of our gratitude. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed their time and energy to make this event a resounding success. Special appreciation goes out to our partners at Americorps for their invaluable support in organizing volunteers, to the Detroit AeroModelers for their generosity in preparing and serving food and to the City of Detroit for supplying the grill, trash cans and hauling away all the debris collected as well as providing 4 flats of flowers for Tamara's planting from Motor City Makeover. A huge round of applause to our program manager, Alex Allen IV, for skillfully facilitating the event and curating the fantastic music that kept us motivated throughout the day. And of course, immense gratitude to our dedicated project group leaders who led by example and inspired us all with their passion and dedication: - Arthur Edge
- Lorraine Harris
- Cara Beld
- Alan Vankerckhove
- Sally Petrella
- Tamara Dyson
- Paul Stark
- Tea Montgomery
- Antonio Cosme
- Jason Vanderwal & friends
- Rachel Meeker
- Kaye Sutherland
- Mike Cuba
- Paula Trilety, Eleanor & Rachel
- Dee Smith
Your commitment to Rouge Park and our community is truly inspiring. Together, we've made a tangible difference, and we look forward to continuing our journey of stewardship and appreciation for this incredible natural gem. Thank you! |
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We wrapped up our Planning Grant from the Kresge Innovative Projects in Detroit program at the end of May. This grant funded two years of programming and the collection of community feedback focused on the geographical Heart of Rouge Park (map). Programs and engagement ranged from campfire conversations at the Horse Stables to the Buffalos and Blues event, and a number of facilitated large group gatherings and conversations. Thank you to all the hundreds of people who provided feedback and especially to those who participated in focus groups, community conversations, and interviews. And a huge thank you to the Kresge Foundation for providing the support for all the programming and community engagement. Please take a look at the FORP Action Plan which we will now be working to implement. |
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From the Land Stewardship Manager Antonio Cosme: This past month we engaged in citizen science, spring flower hikes, stewardship workdays, and held a huge clean up event throughout the park. On May 3rd we finished up our Vernal Pond studies with youth from Detroit Urban Forest School and the Arab American National Museum’s teen group. We hosted our annual spring flowers hike called Cinco de Flores on May 5th just as the last of the spring ephemerals waned. These short-lived plants sprout and flower quickly to take advantage of the sunlight reaching the forest floor. The warm weather came quickly this year, marked by the forest canopy leafing out, and the end of the ephemeral flower season. We hosted the Old Growth Forest Network at the park! They work to identify and protect forests and let people know where they are located with the idea of stopping the destruction of what old-growth forests remain, help forests to recover, and enable more Americans to experience an old-growth forest. The southern section of Rouge Park best fits the description as the flood plain there was never clear cut, but many locations throughout the park qualify as well. We are working to get Rouge Park's forests recognized as part of the national Old-Growth Forest Network, joining Palmer Park and offering some protections for our precious Rouge Park! As an interesting May forage & flowering note, I found some morel mushrooms in the park! Also, the lupines in the prairie trail complex were blooming gorgeously this month, even in areas damaged severely by the Detroit Sewage and Water Department’s water infrastructure project. We held multiple stewardship days: A Rocket Community Fund workday at Joe Prance Rec Area where we will be looking to build a youth play area; two Honeysuckle Happy Hours on May 23 at the Stonebridge Trailhead and May 30 at the Prairie Pathway and Butterfly Garden Trailhead. Our focus is to remove the invasive species around prominent public use areas. Until we can get a handle on the momentous task of managing invasives in the park, we could use your help!! We also hosted a workday near the Buffalo Soldiers where we pulled garlic mustard in preparation for Rouge Park Appreciation Day. Our many partners hosted 225 volunteers, primarily AmeriCorps members, for the annual #RougeParkAppreciationDay. It was a huge effort and made a big difference in our park! We hope you’ll join us this month, check out the link below for info on the upcoming work days! |
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Help Envision The Future of Detroit |
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Click here to see all of their upcoming events. |
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Honeysuckle Happy Hour
Friday, June 14, 4:30-8pm
Sorensen Recreation Area (map)
Join us in removing invasive woody plants while enjoying a beverage. We will also hike to look for berries.
Register Sunday Yoga in the Park Sunday, June 16, 9-10 am (every Sunday through Sept.)
Brennan Recreation Area, by the basketball courts (map)
Join Yoganic Flow every Sunday morning (9-10am) through September for yoga in the park.
Register Brennan Pools and Splash Pad Open
Monday, June 10th
Sat-Sun, 12pm-8pm
Swim lessons begin June 24, registration will open June 10.
Detroit Youth Lacrosse
Monday, June 17th, 5-7pm
Brennan Recreation Area (map)
Learn the basics of lacrosse in a pickup and play format. 8-13 boys & girls welcome! Every Monday through August. General 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 6-9pm
Brennan Recreation Area (map)
Free community concert
Register Senior University Rouge Park Bus Tour
Thursday, June 27th, 10am
Details to be announced. Honeysuckle Happy Hour - Queer workday
Thursday, June 27th, 4:30-8:00 pm Prairie Pathway Trailhead (North) & Butterfly Gardens (map) Join us in removing invasive woody plants while enjoying a beverage. Register Sugarbush Pancake Breakfast Work Day
Sunday June 29, 10am-2pm
Joe Prance Recreation Area (map)
Join Black to the Land's Forestry School in clearing an area and building a nature play area. Register
Detroit United Lacrosse
Monday, July 19, 5:30-7:30pm
Learn the fundamentals of lacrosse and participate in competitive games. Details to be announced. 17th Annual Butterfly and Native Prairie Plant 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 Birds, Bugs and Plants Walk
Saturday, August, 17, 1-3pm
Prairie Pathway and Butterfly Garden
Join FORP and Detroit Bird Alliance in exploring the prairie.
Register Senior University Rouge Park Picnic
Saturday, August 22nd, 11:30am-2:30pm Sorensen Recreation Area
Details to be announced. Rouge Park Bat Listening
Saturday, August 24th, 7:30-9:30pm
From the barn at 8886 Lahser Road, head north on Lahser
Join FORP and the Detroit Zoo to listen for bats. Details to come. Register |
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