This past week marked the first day of spring 2020! In Palmer Park, we can begin to see the greenery brighten, flowers and plants sprouting from the ground, leaves on trees – our park is greeting the warm weather and sunshine. This week, also marked an unprecedented experience for almost all of as we were encouraged to self-quarantine, keep our social distancing and avoid groups or social gatherings. At this point in time, parks and green spaces can provide a necessary solace to help us all cope with this emerging situation.  

The City of Detroit has mandated that all recreation and community centers be closed, so the Palmer Park Community House will not be open for any meetings or events. Given this is our slower season of activities and events in the park, our main community cancellation is indoor yoga with Yoganic Flow, which has been consistently offered on Saturday mornings in the Palmer Park Community House. Until further notice, yoga is canceled. Note that Yoganic Flow is offering online classes: youtube.com/user/YoganicFlow  for free online Yoganic Flow classes;  yoganicflow.com/online-yoga-classes  for personalized classes.

We have also decided to postpone our planned Annual Meeting, which was to be held on April 18th. I am using the word postponed intentionally as we sincerely hope to host the meeting in the near future as soon as rescheduling is safe. We have much to share about news of upcoming spring and summer events. Stay tuned for announcements of future events. 

Also, sadly, recent evidence suggests that COVID-19 virus can live for several days on surfaces such as playgrounds or other “high touch”  areas in public spaces. For this reason, we discourage use of the playgrounds in Palmer Park. As all of you, we are following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other health authorities, regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, which includes following a 6-ft separation guideline, even when outdoors, to help prevent community spread. We have all been inundated with what not to do. However, one of the positive guidelines is to urge all of us to get outside, enjoy fresh air, exercise your body and clear your mind. My husband, dog and I have been taking daily walks in the park along the miles of trails – we have greeted friends and neighbors along the way and have been grateful for our beautiful neighborhood park. And recently a Detroit firefighter asked if they could do their weekly workouts in Palmer Park, and we have encouraged them to do so. 

What better place to get outside, enjoy fresh air and get some exercise than Palmer Park !

Rochelle E. Lento
People for Palmer Park 
Board President 

People for Palmer Park announces that it is a proud Community Partner for the upcoming 2019 Rocket Mortgage Classic, and we join the City of Detroit in welcoming the PGA Tour to the historic Detroit Golf Club for the first time, June 24-30, 2019.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE TOURNAMENT
From June 24-30, 2019, The Rocket Mortgage Classic (RMC) will bring 156 of golf's greatest players, as well as an international television audience and visitors from around the world to our city, the Detroit Golf Club and to the neighborhoods adjacent to Palmer Park this June. 

As a backdrop, volunteers are an integral part of the operations of all PGA Tour events. More than 100,000 volunteers annually contribute countless hours helping orchestrate more than 120 tournaments in all aspects from admissions and guest services to marshals and scoring.

Interested in learning more about volunteering? Visit the RMC Volunteer Registration site for more information. Spaces are limited, so be sure to register early as committees will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

• Please note that the Rocket Mortgage Classic is run by the PGA Tour. People for Palmer Park is a community partner and cannot register you to volunteer.
• Full details about the tournament, tickets and other news can be found at the Rocket Mortgage website. Or contact Noelle Johnston at njohnston@intersportnet.com or at 313-329-5699.

RENT YOUR HOME TO VISITORS DURING THE TOURNAMENT
ADDITIONALLY, The Rocket Mortgage Classic has partnered with Rent Like A Champion to provide private home listings to players and their families to rent for the week of June 24th. Rent Like A Champion is the largest vacation home rental website specifically for sporting events nationwide and has worked with professional golfers at PGA events around the country, helping to provide the comfort and convenience of a private home during tournaments.

• If  you are interested in your home being included on this listing for the 2019 Rocket Mortgage Classic, please contact Denise Wright at denise@rentlikeachampion.com or at 855-244-4263 for more information. 

As more details unfold in the months before the tournament begins, People for Palmer Park will continue to share more ways you can get involved and be a part of the excitement!

The People for Palmer Park are helping put together the first of what is hoped will be MANY free handball workshops at the newly renovated Palmer Park Handball Courts. 

The historic courts reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 13, 2018. Passionate members of the Michigan Handball Association from the surrounding communities worked diligently for many months prior to raise the funds needed to get the courts back to a playable state after many years of neglect. These players in turn partnered with PFPP and the City of Detroit and its Parks & Recreation department to bring these courts to a whole new generation of handball enthusiasts.

The group together with PFPP Recreation committee is looking to hold
FREE 4-week introductory Spring workshops 5/18-6/8/2019:

Kids aged 12 & up Saturdays 10-11am 
Adults Saturdays 12-1pm

To help us gauge interest, please send an email if interested--along with any questions or suggestions-- to Stewart Shevin at sshevin@comcast.net.

Saturday, January 19th, 2019
at the Palmer Park Community House 
11am-1pm and 2-4pm

Come share your thoughts on a future walking and biking route crossing 31.5 miles of Detroit and let the city know how to make this greenway work for you! Get involved in the preliminary stages of the Joe Louis Greenway by viewing the finalists’ proposals for the planning framework and participating in a Q&A with the city officials and consulting firms behind its development. The meeting will be at the Palmer Park Community House from 11 am - 1 pm and again from 2 - 4 pm

The Joe Louis Greenway (JLG), named after Detroit boxing legend, will be a new 31.5-mile recreational pathway connecting neighborhoods across the city and to the rest of the region. The Greenway' project will be a combination of new infrastructure and links to existing but disjointed trails, ultimately providing a safe and efficient loop around the city, with connections from 8 Mile all the way to the Detroit Riverfront, all without a car. The greenway is expected to stabilize neighborhoods, create jobs, support transportation, and create new spaces for play citywide. This will be a greenway for every Detroiter.

The Palmer Park Community House is the colorful painted building next to the Splash Pad at the split of Merrill Plaisance and Pontchartrain.

Facebook page for JLG - ​https://www.facebook.com/JoeLouisGreenway/

Meetings are also set up as events on our Facebook page so it's easier to invite community - 
www.facebook.com/events/2266390863372528/

The long anticipated reconstruction of the Palmer Park Tennis Courts has begun!

According to People for Palmer Park Board member and Palmer Park Tennis Academy Director, Leonora King, the process begins with tearing up the cement and then letting the area rest over the winter. Asphalt can be put down sometime in April 2019 and the top playing surface laid sometime in May 2019.

"All of this is done to extend the longevity of the courts," King said.

A total of nine new courts will include six junior courts for the kids and one bank of courts marked for pickle ball players. Additional improvements will include new fencing, benches, nets and windscreens.

Reconstruction of the Palmer Park Tennis Courts by the City of Detroit is made possible in part by a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. 

Completion of the Tennis Courts project set for May 30, 2019

"HONOR & REJOICE"
The Detroit Police Department partners each year with LGBT Detroit for their annual LGBT Community Chat at Palmer Park. The focus is honoring those who have paved the way, the progression and the future of the LGBTQ+ movement and the ongoing strides made with law enforcement. Additionally this year, The Hotter Than July Candlelight Vigil will coincide with this event.

This community chat will be held on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 @ 6pm at Palmer Park (Merrill Plaisance & Woodward Ave, near Lake Frances - "The Duck Pond"). Look for the tent.

As always, this will be a relaxed and welcoming environment hosted by Corporal Danielle Woods - LGBT Liaison/Public Safety Foundation/Detroit Recreation Department/Detroit Police Department in which the City will provide information and resources to EVERYONE in the community, spread awareness, and address any concerns ANYONE may have. The community chat offers an opportunity for law enforcement, community members, allies, and organizations to communicate and engage each other to help with the restoration of public trust and positive relationships.

• OFFER PROGRAM ASSISTANCE
• SPREAD AWARENESS
• ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS
• Q & A SESSION
• RELAXED ENVIRONMENT

Please join us!
Attached is a flyer for you to post & share!

For more information on this year's Hotter Than July celebration events, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DetroitHTJ

Tennis is not just a sport, it's a passion!

Start/Restart Tennis is the perfect multi-week program for adults to have a blast, meet new people and learn the basics of tennis. Whether you have never held a racquet or have not played in years, this is the program for you. Participants receive a t-shirt, tennis instruction and rule booklet.

Get ready to feel the excitement that tennis can bring to your life - and START PLAYING TENNIS!

​WHEN: June 4-August 6, 2018, Mondays 6-7:30 pm
COST: $75
REGISTER: Now through June 11, 2018 (20 students maximum!)
WHERE: Palmer Park Tennis Courts, Detroit
CONTACT: Leonora King, 313-828-8847, leonorakng@aol.com
INSTRUCTOR: Coach Dave Warren