| FORP & Rouge Park News: Alex Jefferson Statue Returned to Jefferson Field Friends of Rouge Park Honored to Participate in MI Healthy Climate Community Accelerator FORP Completes First Financial Audit October Events in the Park
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Upcoming Activities & Events
- Stewardship Workdays: Nov. 4, 8,12, 22 & 27
- FORP Holiday Party: Dec. 16, 6-8pm
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Alex Jefferson Statue Returned to Jefferson Field |
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On Oct. 3, 2025, the beautiful bronze statue of Tuskegee Airman and Detroit Public School teacher Alex Jefferson was returned to Jefferson Field and rededicated! Created by local sculptor Austen Brantley and funded by Cynthia and Edsel Ford and the Henry Ford II Fund through the City of Detroit’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship, the statue was placed in Rouge Park and dedicated on June 24, 2024. On Oct. 23, 2024, the statue was stolen by metal thieves but quickly recovered thanks to some quick detective work by the Detroit Police Department. Artist Brantley took almost a year to lovingly repair the broken statue and the City worked hard to have it replaced. Jefferson’s family, the Detroit Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, the Friends of Rouge Park, and the Detroit AeroModelers came together with the City of Detroit on Oct. 3, 2025 to rededicate the statue and show that the community does not give up. Come visit the statue as a reminder of our shared history and the perseverance of heroes like Jefferson, who fought for our country only to face discrimination at home, yet went on to inspire generations as an educator. Never give up. |
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Friends of Rouge Park Honored to Participate in MI Healthy Climate Community Accelerator |
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In October 2024, Friends of Rouge Park was one of 25 organizations selected to participate in the Michigan's Justice40 Accelerator. Participants were selected from frontline communities across Michigan to build capacity for enduring and equitable climate action. In its first year, the program provided participation funding, one-on-one technical assistance, training, and partnership-building opportunities to participating organizations. Over the last year, Friends of Rouge Park has taken full advantage of this opportunity to support our stewardship efforts in the park as well as to build our organizational capacity to further our efforts. This week in Lansing, the cohort gathered to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of the year and were honored by the presence of Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II who made the announcement that the program will continue for a second year with a new name, the MI Healthy Climate Community Accelerator. In 2026, our participation in the Accelerator will support FORP to be a partner in the state working to achieve the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, specifically focusing on protecting Michigan’s land and water. |
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FORP Completes First Financial Audit |
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In the year of big milestones, FORP is happy to share that we’ve completed our first financial audit. As we grow as an organization, fiscal responsibility is our utmost priority. The full audit can be found on our website for full transparency. |
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October Events in Rouge Park! |
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Mountain Bike Ramble The 3rd annual Mountain Bike Ramble brought together over 50 mountain bike enthusiasts, riders, volunteers, coaches and community members. We rallied around Detroit’s only official mountain biking trail located in the heart of Rouge Park and had a blast! We were blessed with great weather, food by Marichona, an all-ages community, and excitement about group riding! Many participants ranging in age from 4 to 60 mountain biked for the first time! Shout out to the Luki Bike Adventures and Black to the Land Coalition for bringing bikes to the event for people to use. Riders went home with helmets, tips and tricks from advanced riders and a new experience! This event was a step in the right direction to fostering interest, excitement and community around biking and especially mountain biking in Rouge Park. Fall Colors Walk While the Fall Colors this year were later than expected due to a particularly dry autumn season, we still experienced seas of red, yellow, green and brown on the forest floor, in the wind and up above on our Fall Colors group hike in mid October. The forest provided cover for the light rain and winds and the over 20 hikers of all ages came prepared with their rain gear and a good attitude. Paul Stark, FORP historian, set the stage with a brief history of the Sorensen area and the origins of the Ma'iingan Wildwood Trail. We did a 3.2 mile hike from the trailhead that starts behind the picnic shelter at the Sorensen Recreation Area to the Stone Bridge and back. Thank you to Paul and David Oakley for spending time carving out this trail, building bridges, and marking out a path! This group hike was a great way to get more comfortable with this trail, get some exercise, fresh air and learn from each other. We identified trees and plants, beaver markings, various mushrooms, birds and more! Fresh air, colorful and calming views, and community—what's not to love? Maybe it’s about time to bring back the historic hiking clubs in Rouge Park? Centennial Club History Bus Tour As a special thank you to Centennial Club Members and a way for folks to get better acquainted with Rouge Park’s various amenities and fascinating 100 year history, we hosted a bus tour at the end of October. We slow-rolled through the 1200 acre park and stopped at key spots along the way while Paul Stark, our trusty resident historian touched on the acquisition of the park, the sculptures, key leaders that advocated for its expansion, how the landscape and land-use has changed, the historic ice skating location, and much, much more! We only had about 1.5 hours to fit in 100 years of history and it definitely felt like we had only scratched the surface and could have been there for a few more hours! We had a sold out bus and learned that many people are interested in more tours around the park. We will definitely be trying to add more next year. Maybe a bike tour? Stay tuned and thank you to everyone who came out to this one! We had a blast!
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From festival celebrations, to bat listening, nature walks, biking and bonfires, it's been a busy year! While FORP has no events planned for November, this is still a great time to be walking trails, enjoying the leaves, spending time outside, seeing wildlife and stretching your legs in Rouge Park! Stay tuned for details about our Holiday Party next month and Winterfest early next year! Save the date: FORP Holiday Party: Tuesday December 16th 6-8PM |
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Join us in the park on the dates below to help restore Rouge Park’s forests, learn some plant ecology in action, and enjoy the crisp fall air while you’re at it! Water Protector Bonfire Workday- 4-8pm Nov. 4 @ Sugarbush (Outer Dr between Tireman and Warren) Youth Weekend Workday- 9:30-1pm Nov. 8 @ North Prairie Trail (Outer Dr between Joy and Tireman) Corporate Workday- 9-12pm Nov. 12 @ the Orchard (Rouge Park Drive, just south of Plymouth) Youth Weekend Workday-9:30-1pm Nov. 22 @ the Paw Paw Ma’iingan (Spinoza Dr, just South of Tireman) Corporate Workday- 9-12pm Nov. 27 @ the Paw Paw Ma’iingan (Spinoza Dr, just South of Tireman)
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Park Report: Tree Planting, Recreation Center Update, Master Plan & More |
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FORP staff and board are always busy keeping an eye on the park and working to get issues addressed. Last month we reported on standing water near the Brennan Pools. This was caused by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department's (DWSD) pumps going offline and they are resolving the issue. DWSD is also continuing to plant more trees in the area east of Outer Drive near Warren. The Brennan Recreation Center groundbreaking that was set for this fall now has been delayed to next spring. The good news is that the Master Planning Process for Rouge Park has begun with the city hiring Living Lab and beginning work. We will share any news of public meetings about the plan so you can become involved, have some input, and share your visions for the park. |
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Southeast Michigan was once home to acres of prairie much like what you see when you walk Rouge Park's prairie that was planted in 1999. Most of Michigan's prairies fell to the plow but some remnants of the original lakeplain prairie still exist in Brownstown Township in a region known as Sibley Prairie, the largest and highest-quality lakeplain prairie remaining in the entire state. 440 acres of Sibley Prairie is currently under threat of being developed and lost forever. Please consider helping the Save Sibley Prairie Coalition protect this special place forever. |
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October Stewardship Update: |
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🍁✨ A huge thanks to the youth from University Prep High School and SOS Outreach for spending a fall day in Rouge Park helping remove invasive species along the future Ma’iingan Wildwood Trail! SOS Outreach is a national program that empowers youth through outdoor adventure—from ⛷️ skiing and 🏂 snowboarding to hiking and service projects— helping them build leadership, confidence, and a love for nature. As part of their journey, these Detroit students give back by caring for their city’s parks and green spaces. Volunteering with Friends of Rouge Park is all about connection—with the land, with each other, and with the beauty of every changing season. We’re grateful to everyone who chooses to give back, get outdoors, and help Rouge Park thrive! 💚 |
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Rouge Park hosted a YouthWorks Conservation Corps crew, funded by Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan, for the last 6 months! YouthWorks crews operate across the state, engaging in vital conservation projects such as trail building and maintenance, invasive species removal, boardwalk and stair construction, and erosion control. The Rouge Park crew—made up of Detroit youth and young adults aged 16–26 who face barriers to employment, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and youth with disabilities—has been hard at work along the Scout Hollow Trail. Their efforts to remove invasive plants have opened up beautiful views of the wetlands and river below, creating space for native plants and improving visitor access. We are grateful for Nel and Marci who have lead this crew this summer into fall. This work continues a proud tradition of conservation in Rouge Park. Nearly a century ago, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) were instrumental in shaping the park, including building the iconic Stone Bridge. Now, as Rouge Park approaches its 100-year anniversary, a new generation of conservation stewards is carrying that legacy forward—working hard, often with little oversight, to protect and restore Detroit’s largest park. |
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October has been a beautiful month to explore Rouge Park and witness fall’s changing colors! If you notice trees that are still green, they’re likely invasive species like buckthorn, honeysuckle, or autumn olive—plants that hold their leaves longer and outcompete our native trees. Another invader, Oriental bittersweet, stands out now with its bright red and yellow berries; it may look pretty, but it strangles trees—so fall is the perfect time to spot and remove it while enjoying the crisp autumn air! Read the October Stewardship Blog here. |
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The Story of Etta S. Wilson |
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Last month we shared the history of the Ma'iingan Wildwood Trail, this month we dive deeper into the story of the woman who saw the incredible ecological value of this remnant old growth forest at the south end of the park and brought the dream of the Wildwood Nature Trail to fruition, Etta S. Wilson. The granddaughter of a prominent Odawa medicine woman, trailblazing journalist and women's rights organizer and renowned ornithologist and nature writer for the Audubon Society, Wilson was an important historical figure in Michigan. Part of her legacy is this trail in Rouge Park; a testament to the natural beauty and ecological value of our beloved park. read the full story here. If you missed the history of the Ma'iingan Wildwood trail last month, you can read it here.
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In honor of 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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Click here to see the Edison Branch's November 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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