Rouge Park: A year in review

Rouge Park in Detroit - Photo by Frank Nemecek

2019 has brought some tremendout improvements to Rouge Park. As the year draws to a close, I want to review some of those great moment and give everyone a look into what the new year has in store for the largest park in Detroit.

 We saw the first leg of the Scout Hollow Nature Trail open this year. 2019 was also the year that:

• Completion of the new Sorensen Historical Interpretive Trail;
• Repairs made to the pool house at Brennan Pool;
• New roof for the Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Center and their horse barn;
• 355 volunteers came out for Rouge Park Appreciation Day. They collected 388 bags of trash, 15 tires, 16 appliances, and 135 cubic yards of invasive plants. They also planted 135 plants and improved 900 feet of trail;
• Three separate additional work days with another 135 volunteers to improve the prairie, clean up trash and cut brush along the bike trail; and
• Planted 25 new trees in the Sorensen Recreation Area thanks to a partnership with the Greening of Detroit.

The Friends of Rouge Park also worked with GM Cares to reclaim the Joe Prance Butterfly Gardens and Trail. This included removeing broken picnic tables and other improvements.

Jacqara Jackson joined the Friends of Rouge Park in February as their part-time project manager. She quickly jumped into organizing our annual meeting, annual cleanup, volunteer day,s and improving our communications with our first electronic newsletter and social media.

As for the coming year, we are expected to see the Sorensen Recreation Area completed in 2020 as well as a walking loop, picnic shelter, playscape, sports fields, and connection to the historical interpretive trail. Major improvements are expected at the archery range. A new splash pad, picnic shelters and a playscape are coming to the Brennan Recreation area.

The completion of new soccer fields in the Cozy Corner Recreation Area and a new large picnic shelter donated by GM.

But none of this would be possible without your support.  Please consider a donation at this time of year.  Checks can be made out to the Friends of Rouge Park and mailed to 9509 West Parkway, Detroit, MI 48239 or you can donate on our website www.rougepark.org.