​Detroit, meet Girl Scouts! At Family Day in the Park, you'll not only have a great time, but you'll also get a firsthand look at how Girl Scouting isn't just another activity—it's a way of life.

We'll have exciting activities for children in grades K–12, like:

• A basketball clinic run by the Detroit Pistons
• Girl Scout programming:
  • Outdoor activities
  • Archery
  • LEGO Derby
• And more!

 
Other FREE happenings for everyone include (but aren't limited to):

• Popcorn, ice cream, and water*
• Live entertainment
• Awesome GSSEM and partner swag (while supplies last)

* Other food and Girl Scout Cookies will be available for purchase.
 
For more information, please email Tiffiny Griffin, Deputy Chief Program Officer, at tgriffin@gssem.org.

Presented by Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, in partnership with Detroit Pistons, Nike, Detroit PAL, Grand Valley State University and Detroit Mercy Dental.

FREE PROGRAMMING JULY 6-SEPTEMBER 4
EVERY WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY, 3-7PM

The Detroit Pistons Foundation partnered with the City of Detroit, William Davidson Foundation, and Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation to create the Neighbors Program in the summer of 2019. The Neighbors Program is an extension of the Pistons' "Basketball for All" initiative through which the Pistons have worked diligently to renovate 52 basketball courts around Detroit and have donated 50,000 basketballs to Detroit's youth. The goal of the Neighbors Program is to encourage Detroiters to enjoy their public parks and outdoor spaces by providing healthy, safe, free outdoor activities for the whole family.

For the fourth summer of the program, the partnership expanded to include the Detroit Parks Coalition. DPC is a collaboration between some of Detroit's largest park organizations and advocacy groups. The DPC works to provide and advocate for clean, beautiful parks and community resources for all Detroiters.


Activities will include: 
Basketball, sports clinics, live music, dance, yoga, art classes and much more!
​
The Neighbors program is proud to contribute to an active, green, healthier future for Detroit.​

The Pistons Neighbors Program takes place in these City of Detroit Parks:
Palmer, Pingree, Chandler, Rouge Park and Romanowski. 

Full schedule here (click Palmer Park tab for our specific programming)
​

Facebook Event: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/676661290303503

When Mayor Duggan first announced the preservation of the historic bandshell in his March 2021 State of the City Address with the goal of relocating it to another site, he said the city's first choice was Palmer Park (District 2)—as long as the neighbors wanted it there. The initiative was supported by Councilmember Roy McCalister Jr. and preservationists from across the region.

After a handful of 2021 online meetings and one final community meeting with District 2 representatives in August, a final vote was taken and the move to Palmer Park was approved.

Public meetings
4/17/2021 - The City of Detroit/General Services Department first presented their three location options at the People for Palmer Park Annual Meeting which sparked the first public discussion on the pros/cons, concerns and questions some of the surrounding community had about the proposed location.

5/11/2021 - The City then held another presentation and discussion on the bandshell relocation at their online April District 2 Meeting. Some support as well as some concerns arose and the three location options were again discussed. Supporters loved the possibilities of free family-friendly cultural events, while concerns about noise levels and more community engagement in planning and design process were also brought forth.

5/27/2021 - The next DISCUSSION MEETING gave members of the surrounding adjacent neighborhoods the floor to share their thoughts, questions and concerns. Supporters argued that this would be an asset to the community, an arts center and that any type of performance/music could be realistically restricted to the type that would not have higher decibel levels such as jazz, folk and classical. Those opposed were worried about establishing controls on impact to the neighborhood, City enforcement issues that are already a concern and the upkeep and maintenance responsibilities for the bandshell.

AUGUST 2021 - Kim Tandy and District 2 representatives as well as GSD/Detroit Building Authority staff held a FINAL community meeting and the community voted to approve bringing the bandshell to Palmer Park. 
Location will be on 7 Mile Road, east of Pontchartrain but closer to Woodward behind the 12th Precinct. Anticipated parking will be for 82-90 cars and 500-person capacity. It was stressed that there will be more community meetings in the future to discuss management, infrastructure and programming. Once cost is determined, the City will work with partners to manage fees associated with the move. Currently the bandshell is completely disassembled and stored at an unknown location.

About the bandshell structure:

• Heavy timber, wood bolted structure, still in very good condition. City will meet current-day building requirements, transport over to the new site and assemble with same structural integrity.
• The clapboard/plywood siding is in poor condition and will be restored with new materials to replicate.
• The move does not include the single story, back-of-house part of structure, which is also to be rebuilt. A smaller back-of-house likely that would serve the bandshell, loading for performance, storing and a green room.

 

WHEN: Saturday, September 11, 2021 from 11am – 4pm
WHERE: Palmer Park near the Community House and Basketball Court

Open to all Detroit and surrounding community families.
Admission to Family Day in the Park is FREE.
Parking is also free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Family Day in the Park event is a fun-filled event is designed to give families a first-hand look at the exciting Girl Scout experiences available to their girls, particularly girls in grades K-5.​

Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan (GSSEM) and partners will present FREE activities for all children who attend:

• Families can see their girls sample some GSSEM Outdoor Education and STEM experiences available to their girls.  All K-12 aged children who attend can participate in the activities. GSSEM and partner organizations will provide FREE Girl Scout programming including robotics, outdoor activities, drone flying lessons, Girl Scouts Olympic style games, Lego Derby and more.
• Special 9/11 Community Service activity to recognize and celebrate first-responders.
• Detroit Pistons will also run a FREE basketball clinic.
• Entertainment includes Mason from 105. 9FM, Detroit Circus Among Us, Detroit Pistons dancers, more.
• Popcorn, ice cream and water will be provided to all attendee FREE of charge.
• Food and Girl Scout cookies will be available for purchase.
• Free swag will be provided while supplies last from GSSEM and partners.

Partner organizations include Detroit Pistons, Detroit PAL, Nike, Grand Valley State University, University of Detroit, School of Dentistry

Website: Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan

THE PERFORMERS
​Charles & Gwen Scales Quartet
Gwen (vocals) and Charles Scales (keyboards) with drums and sax will perform an array of jazz, soulful, spiritual, and their own original music. Gwen and Charles have shared the stage with artists such as Patti LaBelle, Phyllis Hyman, Najee, and Hamilton Bohannon; and performed for Bill and Hillary Clinton,
various Detroit mayors and Michigan governors, as well as for crowds at the Detroit Jazz Festival, concerts in Japan and the United Kingdom, and regularly at Detroit Unity Temple.

Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi
Detroit-born Yale Strom (violin), Elizabeth Schwartz (vocals, baritone ukulele) and Greg Powell (bass) will perform Klezmer music, a 1000-year old Eastern European musical tradition played at Jewish weddings, parties, and holiday celebrations. It was nearly extinguished during the Holocaust. Yale is an award-winning filmmaker, violinist, composer, writer, photographer, playwright, historian, and one of the world’s leading ethnographer-artist of klezmer music. Elizabeth is an acclaimed vocalist and first woman to sing in NYC’s 125 year-old Eldridge Street Synagogue/Museum. They’ve performed throughout the U.S. and Europe in festivals, Carnegie Hall, jazz clubs, and synagogues.

SW Corner of 7 Mile and Woodward EVERY Wednesday
July through September from 4:30-7:30
Masks and social distancing encouraged

Visit Palmer Park Farmers Market on Facebook and Instagram.In partnership with Eastern Market, Detroit Community Markets and the City of Detroit Parks & Recreation Department, join us each Wednesday at this lovely local market for farm fresh fruits and vegetables and more, rain or shine.

WE ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING ADDITIONAL PRODUCE VENDORS to round out the remainder of the season. Interested or know someone who is? Here is this year's vendor application.


Visit Palmer Park Farmers Market on Facebook and Instagram.

*** NOTE: WE HAVE A NEW TEXT ALERT NUMBER! PLEASE READ BELOW! ***
TEXT ALERTS FROM PEOPLE FOR PALMER PARK!

Will tonight’s bike ride be cancelled due to rain?
Is the ground too wet this week for yoga or t’ai chi?
Now you can receive instant updates for our recreation programs and events, in text form RIGHT ON YOUR PHONE.

We have a new number for our text alerts. This is due to an exciting upgrade to a more robust system with better capabilities. But it does mean we need you to sign up again at the new number. 

INSTRUCTIONS:
(This is a one time setup and will only take a moment...)

Text “PalmerPark” to the number 888-833-7575.
No quotes, no spaces. It is not caps sensitive. Now SEND.

You will receive a reply that looks something like this:

Welcome!
Msg&Data rates may apply.
Get 10msg/mos of Park Alerts.
Reply HELP for help, STOP to OptOut. 8883483778

Thank you for joining PFPP's PalmerPark keyword group! Please reply with your First Name. Txt STOP to OptOut


Reply with your first name only.
You will receive next msg like this:

Thank you for providing us with your First Name. Please provide your Email for further correspondence.

If you choose to provide your email, you will receive next msg like this:

Thank you! Your email provides us another way to keep you informed about Palmer Park.


Then you're all set!
ALL text alerts will be People for Palmer Park related (weather updates for recreation programs, event reminders), Not spam. Charges may apply, check your individual cellular/data plan.