| In This Issue:
This Weekend: Employment Opportunities: - FORP Seeking Executive Director
- Youth Ambassadors Sought for Rouge Park and six other Detroit parks
News & Updates: - September Stewardship Updates
Other 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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Buffalo Soldiers & Blues Freedom Arts Festival Saturday, Oct. 5th, 1pm-5pm |
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Celebrate freedom and the history of the Buffalo Soldiers with the Friends of Rouge Park, the Detroit Parks Coalition and the Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Association with free horse rides, museum tours, Blues with Big Pete and Friends, food, art and lawn games. This is part of the Detroit Parks Coalition's 2024 Freedom Arts Festival that kicked off on June 19 at the Dequindre Cut with Juneteenth Stories from Black Bottom and concludes on Nov. 2 in Patton Park with the Run of the Dead. Rouge Park's event is Saturday Oct. 5, 1-5 pm at 8886 Lahser, Detroit, MI 48239 (map). Check out Program Manager Alex "Lex" Allen discussing the event on CBS. |
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Want to Work in the Park? |
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FORP Seeks Executive Director!
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The work of the Friends of Rouge Park just keeps growing such that we are in need of a full time executive director to manage the organization, especially in light of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the opening of Rouge Park in 2025. We are seeking someone who loves the park and nature and has experience in fundraising, community-building, human resources, grant-writing and management, marketing and non-profit management. This is a fantastic opportunity to build up our organization to protect, restore and promote the city of Detroit's largest park. |
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September Stewardship Update -Antonio Cosme, Land Stewardship Manager
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The goldenrod yellows are fading away as the green leaves are beginning to change colors. Finally the mosquitos are done for the season, which is prime time for workdays!! I spent the first half of September harvesting wild rice in northern Wisconsin! For the Anishinaabe, native peoples of this land, the word for wild rice is manoomin, meaning "good berry". I hope to bring wild rice programming to Rouge Park one day! Early fall is truly our season of abundance with gardens brimming with vegetables, tomatoes, winter squashes and corn; trees overflowing with apples, persimmons, and paw paws. Thanks to all of you whom joined us at the DTown Harvest Festival on Sept 21-22 to celebrate this abundance in the park's own farm. But this abundance sometimes means our trees need protection. The deer population in Metro Detroit has grown enormously over the past 20 years. Our newly planted cherry orchard has proved tempting to them as they nibble on the branches and the bucks rub off the bark to help them in shedding the “velvet” from their horns. To help protect the 50+ cherry trees we planted, we worked with the Detroit Partnership for Food, Learning and Innovation to protect the new cherry orchard from deer with fencing on Sept. 15. If you are interested in learning more about taking care of fruit trees, come out on Nov. 16 for a pruning workshop for the cherry trees, 2-4 pm. The cherry orchard is supported by the USDA Forest Service, Inflation Reduction Act and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program.
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We are excited to have established a new partnership with The Mission Continues, an organization that empowers military veterans.
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The Mission Continues volunteers came out Sept. 14 to the Sorensen area and worked on a walkway designed by David Oakley to improve the trail and removed invasive species. They will also be coming out for Veterans Day in November for a work day on the Scout Hollow Trail.
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We kicked off our fall Buckthorn Bonfires series on Sept. 18 and will be hosting stewardship days through October (including one tonight, Oct. 4!). We also are excited to be hosting the Detroit Zoo's Conservation Student Interns on four Saturdays this fall in the park.
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Rouge Park Movie Night! Saturday, Oct. 26th, 6:30pm-10pm |
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Join us for a spooktacular evening on Saturday, October 26th, from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM! The movie will start at 8:00 PM, and we’re brewing up a fun-filled night under the stars. Cozy Corners Recreation Area (map). What to Expect: - Complimentary Popcorn & Snacks: Enjoy free popcorn and snacks while you watch.
- Cozy Comfort: Bring your own chairs and blankets to get comfy for the movie.
Don’t miss out on this Halloween treat—come for the movie, stay for the fun! |
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Click here to see their October events. Edison Branch is now open on Saturdays but closed on Fridays HOURS 12-8pm Mon. & Wed. 10am-6pm Tues., Thurs., & Sat. |
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Upcoming Events in Rouge Park |
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Friday, Oct. 4th, 4:30-7:00 pm
Honeysuckle Happy Hour
Cherry Orchard
Join us in building a wood chipped trail
Register
Sat. Oct. 5, 1-5pm
Buffalo Soldiers and Blues Freedom and Arts Festival
Buffalo Soldiers Horse Barn (map)
Celebrate the history of the Buffalo Soldiers with pony rides, blues, museum tours, food and lawn games.
Register
Sun. Oct. 6, 2-3:30pm
Fish and Tree Walk
Scout Hollow Trailhead
Learn to identify trees and what fish are found in the Rouge River in Rouge Park.
Register
Wednesday, Oct. 9th, 4:30-9:30pm
Buckthorn Bonfire
Ma'iingan Wildwood Trail
Join us in removing invasive species
Register
Friday, Oct. 25th, 4:30-9:30pm
Buckthorn Bonfire
Scout Hollow Trailhead
Join us in removing invasive species
Register
Fri. Oct. 26, 6:30-10pm
FORP Movie Night
Cozy Corner (Joy & Spinoza)
Join us in the park to enjoy a movie to celebrate the Halloween season.
Register
Wednesday, Oct. 30th, 4:30-9:30pm
Buckthorn Bonfire
Joe Prance Recreation Area
Join us in removing invasive species
Register
Sunday, Nov. 10, 12:00-4:00 pm
Mountain Bike Ramble
Rouge MTB Trailhead
Youth oriented day for beginner and intermediate riders to try out three courses. Bikes, helmets and snacks provided.
Register
Saturday Nov. 16, 2-4 pm
Cherry Tree Pruning Workshop
Cherry Orchard
Register
Tuesday December 17 at 6pm
Membership Meeting and Holiday Party
Starter's Bar and Grill
Join FORP to celebrate the year
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