Enhancing our relations with the City of Detroit Parks & Recreation department, General Services Department, Park Patrol, the Detroit Police Department, and hearing the voices of the community as to the activities they want to see in the park is GOAL #1 of this committee.
Susan Stellar chaired the Committee to implement key aspects of the neighborhood and housing plan related to the activation of green space in our square mile. In December 2021, a grant was authored to bring summer programming to invite O’Hair Park residents of all ages back into the newly renovated park. The grant sought to bring martial arts, yoga, dance lessons to the new shelter along Stahelin.
“Soccer in the D,” a program from the City of Detroit Parks & Rec debuted at O’Hair Park in April of 2022. Registrations were at capacity. It was such a smashing success that it returned in the fall as well.
The summer of 2022 saw increased usage in O’Hair Park. Three large events occurred in June, July, and August with summer programs enjoyed by the whole family.
June 18, 2022 marked the first time OHPCA hosted a Juneteenth Celebration, right in our gem “O’Hair Park.” It was a day of family fun, live music, food, and games. Over 320 people attended with 95% of the attendees coming from our community.
A Black Marketplace of vendors were on hand selling services and products, the Detroit School of Arts Drumline, head wrapping demonstration, storytelling, yoga, food trucks, face painting, video game mobile truck, followed by 3 musical acts. The sun was out, but the wind was kicking.
OHPCA was able to secure funding to host 3 summer activities for 6 weeks from late June to early August that included: yoga classes and hustle lessons for the whole family, and martial arts for children ages 6 – 10 years of age, right in our beautiful park. The programs ran for six weeks, once a week, and drew 87 participants with many coming back for more classes.
Today, we are happy to announce that our Summer programs in O’Hair are growing annually, find out more info here.