ABOUT PEOPLE FOR PALMER PARK

Our history, our vision, our plans.

Download our 2022 Annual Meeting presentation here:
pfpp-annual-mtg-2022-presentation.pdf
File Size: 35481 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Related Links from last annual meeting:
MISSION STATEMENT
"To further the preservation, revitalization, and viability of Palmer Park — a Detroit park for the good of all."

People for Palmer Park ("PFPP") grew out of strong neighborhood concern for the viability of Palmer Park ("the Park"), which was in part inspired by the City's announcement in 2009 that it planned to close the Park. Led by enthusiastic tennis players, a grassroots movement of residents and neighbors from all surrounding communities began meeting and organizing. Many of those early organizers remain active with PFPP today.

PFPP was formed as a Michigan non-profit corporation in April 2011, and obtained its federal tax exemption, or charitable status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code in November 2011. The organization has an elected Board of Directors comprised of area residents, approved bylaws, monthly board meetings held since the spring of 2011, and annual public meetings since March 2011.

In 2011, PFPP and the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Department, under the guidance of General Services, began exploring a potential partnership agreement. PFPP and the Detroit City Department of Parks and Recreation, which retains policy control, has discretion over all user permits and events in the park, and provides the current field staff to keep Palmer Park open and sustainable.
Activities and Improvements

The following is a partial list of activities and improvements undertaken by PFPP since late 2010:
  • Cleared miles of impassable trails in the Park
  • Sponsors regular (in season) Park clean-ups
  • Sponsors weekly bike rides and walks in the Park
  • Established a garden club to plant flowers and plants at entryways
  • Sponsors an architectural walking tour of the Park and surrounding historic apartment buildings in Palmer Park (600 people in attendance in 2013)
  • Sponsors a Harvest Fest, Children Storytime & Holiday Caroling event 
  • Sponsors a WinterFest each year since February 2012, which includes children's activities, sleigh rides, a doggie fashion show and more free winter related fun
  • Developed a natural compost area for neighborhood gardeners
  • Winterized and secured historic log cabin (removed all animal debris/cleaned interior)
  • Sponsored a Log Cabin Day fundraiser in June 2012 and Log Cabin Day event each year
  • Facilitated the removal and trimming of dead or invasive species in the Park
  • Supported the City's annual fishing derby at the Park
  • Participated and supported the City's development of an architectural marker at the entrance of the Park near Woodward and 6 Mile Rd. 
  • Raised $8,000 to add landscaping, benches, bike racks and more to the new playscape installed in the Park by the City in 2014
  • Sponsored a neighborhood plant sale in May 2012
  • Planted an apple orchard with volunteers in May 2012
  • Outdoor free yoga classes in the Park every Saturday during the summer since June 2012 and free yoga for kids class beginning in 2014
  • Established a USTA approved tennis program for children 10 and under, growing each year since June 2012
  • Developed a website to inform the community of all activities and news
  • Made possible the installation of a bike fixit station next to the Palmer Park Community House
  • Built an urban educational garden with 8 raised beds and pumpkin patch with the support of a grant and volunteers from Home Depot in the summer of 2014; hired a part-time farm manager (our first staff position)
  • Built a butterfly garden near the splash pad and playscape
  • Crowdfunded a successful $60,000+ Patronicity fundraising campaign to restore ALL of the log cabin stained glass windows
  • Completed building a functional greenhouse in the urban educational garden in 2018
  • Partnered with the DIA to have Inside Out art installations throughout the park in the spring of 2018.
  • Completed a Lake Frances Lighthouse feasibility report on future restoration
  • Partnered with Bees in the D to have our own beehives near the urban educational garden.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
Picture
Partnership with the City of Detroit

PFPP has developed a close partnership with the City of Detroit Recreation Dept. and the General Services Division and all of our activities have been done in full concert and communication with City representatives. We began our meetings with the City Recreation and GSD in the summer of 2011. We have presented a 25-year Master Plan, which included both a diagram plan as well as the specifications for the planned improvements, for their consideration and approval. In that year, there were no less than six meetings with City representatives including Alicia Minter, Brad Dick, Tim Karle, Craig Bristow (retired), Karen Petola, (retired), Scott Brinkman, Trina Tucker and Ron Brundidge. In September 2011, five copies of the 25-year Master Plan, Site Maps and Construction Forecast were delivered to Ms. Minter. In addition, minutes and attendee lists from the two community charettes were provided.

In September 2011, PFPP also submitted a Park Improvement Form for Playscape Improvements, which was signed and approved by the Recreation Department. 

In January 2012, PFPP submitted a Park Improvement Form covering eight proposed improvements. Number 4 in that document is Sustainable Historic Varietal Orchard, which contains the following specific planned activities:

"Trim, prune, uplift, remove diseased, non-native or soft wood invaders, per each orchard section, disk, harrow, plant fruit trees and install no-mow native turf." This section calls further for the planting of 1124 fruit trees.

This PIF was reviewed, with marked changes and signed and approved by Craig Bristow, and Alicia Minter on February 23, 2012. In January 2012, PFPP also submitted an Adopt-a-Park Application to the GSD in accordance with the City's adoption procedure. We have an approved form authoring a ten year adoption "To partner with the City for preservation and revitalization of Palmer Park." In the spring of 2012, we received a commitment from the City to have a regularized maintenance and lawn-cutting program at Palmer Park.

Planting the apple orchard

From our historic records, we have learned that the Palmer family maintained an orchard in the Park. We believe we are returning the Park to its natural historic use.

A few facts about the orchard: All 600-700 trees were donated to the People for Palmer Park. All labor to prepare, till, plant and fertilize the trees was voluntary. The PFPP intends to pay for and engage a watering truck to assure viability of the trees. We also intend to sponsor an apple harvest event to pick all the apples when ready. We have had advice and assistance from a master gardener/horticulturist with the planting of those trees. 

PFPP planted the orchard, is maintaining it, and assures the community that it will benefit from this beautiful and vital improvement to the Park.

Restoration, Preservation, Sustainability and Beautification

PFPP is in the process of developing plans to restore Palmer Park to its former splendor as envisioned by its 19th-century designers, Frederick Law Olmsted and Charles Eliot, and the park’s benefactors. What is unique about our redevelopment concept is that it incorporates a design of self-sustainability with the intent to create a park that can pay for its own maintenance and improvements. The plan is a work in progress and will be updated as changes are implemented. PFPP has developed short and long-term fundraising priorities and will begin with the restoration of the log cabin, historic fountain, tennis courts, Lake Frances wetlands, and the boundary of the park, as well as establishing long-term operating support.

Beyond the restoration, preservation, and beautification goals, PFPP plans to develop future public programing that will draw on the invaluable resources in Palmer Park and provide education, recreation, and volunteer opportunities for children, teenagers, adults, families, community organizations, and schools. In addition, the PFPP will provide visitor services in the park.


NEXT: BOARD / COMMITTEES