| - Notes from the Executive Director
- Local Foundations Support Rouge Park
- Park Projects & Maintenance
- Winter Wildflower Walk Report
- Rouge Park Winterfest Report
- Sugarbush Kickoff Report
- Stewardship Update
Upcoming Events: - Animal Tracking & Tree ID Walk - Feb. 16, 2pm
- Annual Membership Dinner Meeting - Mar. 18, 6pm
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Notes from the Executive Director
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It's hard to believe that it has only been a month since I’ve been here with Friends of Rouge Park as the first executive director (that's me in the above photo at Winterfest with Smokey)! In this short time, I’ve learned so much about the park, from its fascinating history to the countless park amenities and hidden gems that I can’t wait to explore. But what I’m most impressed and inspired by are the incredibly passionate board, talented staff, and countless partners and stewards of the park that I’ve met in the last month. It is truly an honor to get to know all of you and to learn about what makes the park so special to you. As we begin this new chapter of the organization and celebrate 100 years of the park, I’m humbled to join the team to build on the incredible foundation that this organization has worked so tirelessly to envision over the last 22 years. Thank you all for your warm welcome and here’s to the beginning of an amazing centennial year! |
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Pictured Above: FORP Executive Director Linday Pielack being interviewed by Fox 2 at Rouge Park Winterfest. |
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Local Foundations Announce Substantial Support for Rouge Park |
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Since our founding in 2002, the Friends of Rouge Park have been a small scrappy organization led by hard-working volunteers dedicated to the protection and improvement of the city of Detroit's largest park. This critical work has finally caught the attention of local foundations and we were awarded multiyear grants from the Gilbert Family Foundation and the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan. These generous gifts will help us to grow the capacity of our organization, moving us from 22 years of volunteer leadership to finally having the capacity to employ full-time staff. With this added capacity, we will be able to expand our core work of engaging the community with seasonal outdoor activities in the park as well as conservation and stewardship activities to protect and enhance the park's natural amenities. The funding will also partially support the celebration of Rouge Park's 100 year anniversary in June! The Friends of Rouge Park are overwhelmed by the generosity of these foundations and excited to be able to truly dedicate time and resources to the hard work of restoring and engaging people with Rouge Park. For more news on these significant investments, check out some of the recent stories of Friends of Rouge Park in the news |
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Rouge Park turns 100 years old this year! We are celebrating all year with a large celebration over the weekend of June 27-29, with a carnival, concerts, tours, nature walks and more. Mark your calendars. We also are currently looking for Centennial Celebration Sponsors and those willing to join the Centennial Club to make this an extra special celebration. |
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Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner March 18, 2025 6-8 pm
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Friends of Rouge Park's Annual Membership Meeting is set for Tuesday March 18 at 6pm. We’ll be sharing food and fellowship as we update you on the year, give some awards, elect our board, and celebrate the park's centennial. We will be sending out invitations as we get the details finalized. If you have skills in finance, law or natural resource management and have some time to spare, please consider running for the board. |
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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. |
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Already a member? Click here to Renew your membership. |
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Coming Up: Animal Tracking & Tree I.D. Walk February 16th, 2pm-4pm |
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Get ready for a fun and educational adventure through Rouge Park! On Sunday, February 16th, Friends of Rouge Park and local naturalist Don Drife are leading a special Animal Track and Tree ID Walk. We’ll be exploring Rouge Park’s beautiful Mountain Bike Trail, which will give us the perfect opportunity to observe the park’s winter wildlife and identify the trees that stand tall during the colder months. Whether you’re an avid nature enthusiast or a curious beginner, Don will share his wealth of knowledge on animal tracks, tree identification, and how nature adapts to winter. |
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Park Projects and Maintenance |
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The severe cold weather over the past few weeks did a number on three of the park's fire hydrants including the one pictured above. Several of you reported this to DWSD and they were finally able to fix all three as of Friday. Thank you for reporting this. We recommend the Improve Detroit app and letting us know when you see things like this. The latest news on the Pistons funded Brennan Recreation Center is that the groundbreaking set for last fall has been moved to March. We are working with the city on the list of trees to replace the 16 that were taken down. Councilman Durhal is working on finding funding for the demolition of the abandoned comfort station at Spinoza and Tireman, restoration of the comfort station at Brennan and repair of the paved walking trails. We are working on two projects for 2025: a viewing platform at the Lahser Marsh and improvements to the Sugarbush to make it more accessible and welcoming to visitors. We will have more detail in the coming months. |
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Wildflowers in Winter a Hit!
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Wildflowers in winter??? Last year at one of our winter tree identification walks, a participant started noticing the dormant flower stalks along the route and asked leader Don Drife if he knew what they were. This got Don to thinking and he decided that rather than teach people to identify trees, he could teach people to identify flowers while they are in their brown and dormant stage. We chose Rouge Park's prairie for its numerous herbaceous plants. To get people ready for the walk, Don put together a beautiful slideshow and gave a virtual talk on what to look for in dead flowers for 30 rapt attendees. On Sunday, January 12th, over 30 nature enthusiasts joined Don Drife along the Prairie Pathway. Despite the winter chill, participants discovered the beauty of dormant wildflowers, learning to identify plants by their stalks, seeds, and dried leaves.
A big thank you to Don for taking the time to teach us all about yet another cool nature thing to observe in Rouge Park! Stay tuned for more nature walks and events. |
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Rouge Park Winterfest Makes the Most of a Little Snow
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On Saturday, January 25th, Rouge Park Winterfest brought together 300 participants for a day of winter fun and outdoor adventure! Participants made the most of what little snow we had and were determined to sled, ski and snowshoe even if that meant sometimes sliding on mud as the sun melted the snow from the hill. Thinking ahead, Program Manager Lex Allen secured a rock climbing wall that gave outdoor enthusiasts a thrill - no snow needed. The cold weather enabled We Fixin to Fish to take people out on the frozen Lahser Marsh to learn how to drill holes for ice fishing. Warm treats like hot cocoa, s’mores, lumpia, and chili kept everyone cozy, while hands-on cordage and deer hide demonstrations provided a unique look at traditional skills. A special shoutout to our resource vendors, including the USDA Forest Service, Belle Isle Nature Center, Playworks Michigan, and Huron-Clinton Metroparks Mobile Outdoor Learning Unit, who shared their expertise and interactive experiences with attendees and to partners SOS Outdoors and Detroit Outdoors who helped make the event happen. The energy stayed high thanks to DJ Guru, who kept the vibes going all afternoon! Plus, we were thrilled to have Fox 2, Channel 4, and CBS Detroit covering the event. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to celebrate winter in Rouge Park! We can't wait to see you at our next event! |
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Rouge Park Sugarbush Kicked off in the Cold |
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The Anishinaabe indigenous peoples of the Great Lakes measured time with the lunar calendar, referring to each moon as the ecological activity that takes place in that time of year. We are now entering the sap flow moon now. The sugarbush season marks a transition out of the winter months, where native peoples who had separated into small hunt and fish camps would come together in stronger numbers for the laborious maple sap harvest. The sugarbush is both a place (a concentration of sugar maple trees) and a season. The Sugarbush in Rouge Park, led by the Detroit Indigenous Peoples Alliance and Black to the Land kicked off this past weekend, February 2. Maples, like all trees, use photosynthesis to turn carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates, aka energy. Like many other trees, maples store their energy in the roots, branches and trunk in winter. However most species of tree do not offer sugary sap! That sweet maple sap flows forth from a unique pressure system, responding to above freezing daytime temperatures and below freezing night temperatures, just like the ones predicted for February. We expect strong flows of maple sap this month. We too urge you to get out of the house, to enjoy the longer days outside, bearing witness to the end of winter and the return of spring just like people have on these lands for thousands of years. Sign up to volunteer at the sugarbush here. |
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Greetings Rouge Park members! The depth of winter seems to have passed us now. On average December and January are the coldest months for our city. And for those of us who love winter, Mother Nature hasn’t performed so poorly this year with a handful of dustings and even a few days where sledding and ice fishing were possible in Southeast Michigan. Forecasters predicted a weak “La Niña” for winter 2024-25. La Niña, occurring every 3 to 5 years, is characterized by lower-than-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This can result in a wave-like jet stream flow across the United States and Canada, causing colder and stormier than average conditions across the North. |
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This year’s polar vortex resulted in record-breaking low temperatures and surprising snow storms across the south too. You might remember the polar vortexes in 2013-14 bringing Detroit the snowiest (95 inches) and coldest winter on record. The third and fourth snowiest years were when I was a young man in 2007-08 and 2010-11. Although I am quick to talk about snowfall and cold when I was young, the chart indicates Detroit’s annual snowfall fluctuates consistently! |
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Unlike the west side of the state, which receives significant lake effect snow, Detroit is located in somewhat a snow shadow, as the prevailing winds, blowing to the east, drop significantly more precipitation on the west side of the state. So if you want to experience more winter, head north or west! |
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As you might recall, we’re not doing much stewardship work in these cold winter months. We’re platting and planning on this year’s stewardship activities! I’m excited to share that we will be hosting weekly volunteer days from March to November and perhaps beyond if the weather cooperates! Additionally we’re looking to expand the roles of stewards in the park to help oversee volunteer opportunities! If you’re interested in becoming a steward, sign up below. |
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Click here to see their February events. Edison Branch is now open on Saturdays but closed on Fridays. Hours: Mon. & Wed. 12-8pm, Tues., Thurs., & Sat. 10am-6pm |
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Upcoming Events in Rouge Park |
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Sunday, February 16th, 2pm-4pm Animal Tracking & Tree Identification Walk
Register here
Tuesday March 18, 6-8 pm Annual Membership Dinner Meeting Registration available soon June 27-29 Rouge Park Centennial Celebration Save the Date! |
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