| Upcoming Events:
- Rouge Park Centennial Celebration Weekend - Friday, June 27th - Sunday, June 29th
- Annual Membership Dinner Meeting - Tuesday, March 18th, 6pm-8pm
- March Stewardship Workdays
- Volunteer Du Nain Rouge - Saturday, March 29th, 11am - 3pm
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News & Updates: - Rouge Park Centennial Club
- Rouge Park Master Plan and Other News
- Stewardship Update
- Animal Tracking & Tree ID Walk Report
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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 Dinner Meeting Tuesday, March 18th, 6PM - 8PM |
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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. |
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March Stewardship Workdays: Sugarbush |
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This March, we’re focusing on the Sugarbush—and we need YOUR help! Join us for our Stewardship Work Days to restore and protect this special area of Rouge Park. |
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Volunteer Du Nain Rouge Saturday, March 29th, 11AM - 3PM |
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Join us for Volunteer Du Nain Rouge, a Mardi Gras-themed workday where we’ll restore the park’s historic trails while embracing the festive spirit of the season. Help remove invasive species, clear paths, and enhance the beauty of Rouge Park, then celebrate with delicious food, music, and a little Mardi Gras flair! |
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In honor of over 20 years of support and to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Rouge Park, we've dedicated a page on our website to recognize our generous donors who have contributed $100 or more to support the centennial celebration. Their contributions help commemorate this milestone year and ensure the continued preservation of our beautiful park. Donations will be accepted throughout the year, and all donors will be acknowledged on this page as a heartfelt THANK YOU for their commitment to Rouge Park. |
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Master Plan and Other Park Updates |
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The City of Detroit has received funding to oversee their first official Master Plan for Rouge Park that will update the community led plan that the Friends of Rouge Park oversaw and completed in 2022 (check it out). Interested contractors are invited to apply through the city's Oracle system with bids due March 17, 2025. Master Plans are important guides for identifying priorities and projects that will then be better aligned for funding. We will keep you updated on how you can be a part of this critical process. As we look to 2025, we are planning several projects thanks to some recent funding. The Conservation Fund is supporting us to build a viewing platform next to the Lahser Marsh. Some state funding will cover improvements to the Sugarbush area to add plantings and make it more accessible for those with limited mobility. |
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Seasonal Changes in Rouge Park |
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It has begun… while it won’t peak until late April or May, you might have already noticed that our state bird, the humble American Robin (Turdus migratorius) returned to Detroit last month just in time for the last (maybe?) cold snap of the season. One friend remarked, “They’re here too early” but here we are… snow melting, looking at a few weeks of 40 degree days in March. For me, the sap is flowing and we’ll be busy in the sugarbush. One thing I love about sugarbush, hunting, frog monitoring, is just simply observing various ecological queues marking the changing season. For birds, the availability of food, the change in natural sunlight, the changing weather and other factors trigger their migration.. with huge volumes moving north through and into the Great Lakes. Detroit is a renowned flyway!
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Herons Colonizing Rouge Park |
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The male Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) have also returned to Rouge Park, nesting in what is called a rookery (or more accurately, a heronry). A shout out to Peggy Dankert for being the first to notice their return. The same nests are refurbished and reused year after year, usually built in trees, constructed out of medium-sized sticks lined with finer twigs, leaves, grass, pine needles, moss, reeds, or dry grass. Herons nest within 3 miles of their wetland feeding grounds. The male birds return early to build up their nests, attracting their mates with various displays and calls. Most herons get the business done and lay eggs before leaves develop in April, with hatching occurring in early May. |
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While herons are not endangered, suitable nesting habitat is severely limited due to the loss of wetlands. Human activity like hiking, biking, ORVs, fishing or hunting in close proximity to active heronries, especially in the early season before eggs are laid, may lead to abandonment of breeding colonies or reduced reproductive success. So please do not go near the herony.
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March Stewardship Spotlight: The Work Begins Around the Sugarbush |
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As winter comes to a close in our 1,200-acre urban oasis, one of our most beloved seasonal traditions begins: tending the sugarbush. For those new to the term, a sugarbush refers to a stand of maple trees managed for maple syrup production—a practice rooted in Indigenous and regional history. Our sugarbush is not just a source of sweet syrup, it’s a living classroom, a habitat for wildlife, and a symbol of our commitment to sustainable land stewardship. Some exciting developments are coming this year including a significant investment from the state towards making the Sugarbush more accessible and biologically diverse. More on that later. |
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This Month’s Stewardship Workdays |
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Thanks to recent grant funding, we’re expanding our stewardship program to weekly volunteer opportunities starting this March! Join me and our team in stewardship of the land around the sugarbush, including an expansion to the Stone Bridge Nature Trail, polishing up the Ma'iingan Wildwood Trail, eliminating invasive species in the area, and handling sugarbush tasks like chopping wood, harvesting, and boiling sap. No experience is needed—bring your enthusiasm and love for the land. March 9 (Sun) 2-6 pm afternoon workday March 16 (Sun) 2-6 pm afternoon workday March 22 (Sun) 9-12 morning workday (pancake breakfast) March 29 (Sat) 11-3 pm Volunteer du Nain Rouge Workday (food & drink) All events meet in southern Rouge Park along the Stone Bridge Trail loop. I suggest parking on Outer Drive, north of Warren, just South of Tireman. You can also plug (42.3490036, -83.2516037) into your GPS. You’ll see plenty of cars there. We highly recommend wearing boots as it’s muddy out there; dress warm, too! Tools, gloves, and other accouterment provided! And please, help spread the word friends, families, or coworkers! |
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Why Does This Work Matter? |
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Because it promotes healthy ecosystems and healthy people. Clearing invasive species allows native plants to flourish, opening up space in the canopy for the native plants to thrive. Restoring these historic trails creates opportunities for cultural learning that allows Detroiters to deepen their relationships with nature and preserve a cultural legacy that connects us to Detroit’s natural and human history. |
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Animal Tracking & Tree ID Walk (Recap) |
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With fresh snow on the ground, it was a beautiful day to hike into the woods with Don Drife from the Michigan Botanical Society, who led us on a tree ID and animal tracking walk. Over 20 people joined us for the hike. Thanks to a loan from Detroit Outdoors, many suited up to make tracks of their own with snow shoes. As we walked the trail, Don taught the art of identifying trees in the winter with the 3 B’s - buds, bark, and branches. In just the short section of the mountain bike trail, we saw a wide variety of tree species, including an exciting identification of a Shellbark Hickory, aka, Kingnut Hickory. Don let us know this was a great sign of forest health. We’re looking forward to revisiting the forest this spring and summer to continue to sharpen our skills and become more familiar with the diverse species Rouge Park has to offer. |
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Click here to see their March 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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We would LOVE your help in supporting the future of Rouge Park! |
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