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By Sara E. Teller
Photos ©2021 by Bennie White

A DEDICATED STAFF THAT ENJOYS PROVIDING PUBLIC SERVICE

THE FRIENDS OF THE OAK PARK LIBRARY (FOPL) WAS FOUNDED IN THE MID-1950S, just prior to the opening of the Library itself in June 1958.

The purpose of the group is to provide support for the Library by offering a broader understanding of what it offers, as well as soliciting a wider use of it services. In its earliest days, FOPL volunteers went door-to-door asking residents to join or donate funds and materials to help establish the facility that patrons enjoy today.

In 2012, the Oak Park Public Library (OPPL) underwent a remodel and expanded its space, offering residents an even wider selection of products and services in a larger space. The Library currently houses nearly 75,000 books and other materials, and provides the community with enrichment programs including classes, seminars, presentations, and other efforts to promote literacy and reading. It also offers a wide range of technology services, including courses designed to teach web-based skills. The diverse selection of materials available at OPPL represents that of Oak Park’s community-at-large, according to Library Director Kimberly Schaaf.

“The Oak Park Public Library [serves] an amazingly diverse community, and our material collections reflect that,” she said. “We have everything from urban fiction to a Russian language collection. Our setting also makes us unique, as we are located adjacent to a beautiful neighborhood park and our community recreation center.”

Adapting with the times, OPPL now offers patrons quick and simple ways to access the Internet on the go, which is particularly important to residents who are in need of free services that support their busy lives.

“The Library recently started circulating Internet hotspots so people can access the Internet at home or on the go,” said Schaaf. This allows the Library to continue partnering with residents during a time at which many individuals would rather be at home.

She added, “In addition to these hotspots, we also subscribe to Libby, giving residents access to thousands of downloadable e-books and audiobooks.” Patrons looking to attain continuing education credits (CEUs) can access Universal Class through Libby, which offers over 500 courses.

“We also recently purchased a variety of children’s picture books that read out loud to kids,” Schaaf said, speaking to the library’s commitment to offering products and services to all populations. She added, “The Library offers notary service, test proctoring, technology assistance, remote printing, resume review, and study rooms. We have a computer lab and regular events, including author talks, concerts, book clubs, and school readiness” options.

THE OAK PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY IS AN INTEGRAL PART of the community, Schaaf says, because “the goal of all the services and materials we offer is to impact our patrons’ lives in a positive way. Whether it’s helping a person scan a document, find their next favorite book, providing study space, providing access to online resources, or a place for their child to get ready for school, we are here to help people.”

As far as COVID-19 is concerned, while it has negatively impacted the library’s budget, Schaaf prefers to look at the positives. “We are currently operating in a fairly normal capacity with our normal services being offered,” she explained. “COVID-19 did impact our budget in a negative way. [Our overall] revenue has been reduced by COVID due to the many restrictions that were in place last year.” But, she added, “despite the loss of revenue, the Library has and will continue to offer the same level of support, service, and materials.”

FOPL continues to raise funds and attain other support for OPPL and is actively looking for volunteers for educational programs, physical improvements, and to encourage the overall enjoyment of reading. The group now has provided more than $50,000 to maintain operation of the library.

Schaaf said, “The Oak Park Public Library is blessed to have an amazing Friends of the Library organization who supports events, equipment, and material purchases. If anyone is interested in helping the Library, becoming a Friend of the Library member is a great way to do that. In addition, we are always looking for community partners and ways we work together with other organizations to accomplish common goals.”

FOPL meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in Room 4 of the community center. Anyone hoping to join should download a copy of the membership application online, fill it out, and drop it off at the Library during regular business hours. There are also numerous upcoming and ongoing events in which residents can get involved.

FROM DECEMBER 1, 2021, TO JANUARY 5, 2022, THOSE WHO ARE A PART OF THE OPPL BOOK CLUB will read A Promised Land by former U.S. President Barack Obama, the first of two volumes, and meet to discuss their experiences. Meetings take place from the safety of readers’ homes via a video call on first Wednesday of every month at 6:00 P.M. The Promised Land will include in-depth discussions during a minimum of two sessions.

Patrons can also look forward to Storytime with Mr. Stuart, an ongoing, fun reading program for toddlers through age 6 that occurs on Wednesdays from 10:15 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.

The Library is partnering with local businesses in Oak Park and the surrounding communities and encourages residents to shop at Kroger, which donates a percentage of its profits to FOPL. Residents can also shop online at smile.amazon.com and the company will donate a very small percentage of any Amazon Smile purchase to a charitable organization. Library patrons can select FOPL to support the library at no additional cost.

In general, the OPPL is a small library which fits perfectly with the close-knit feel of Oak Park. Schaaf says, “Readers should know that although we are a small library, we have a very dedicated staff that enjoys providing public service. We look forward to welcoming new members.”

For more information regarding the Friends of the Oak Park Library or the Oak Park Public Library itself, visit OPPL’s page on the City of Oak Park’s website at www.oakparkmi.gov/departments/library/index.php, stop by in person, or call 248.691.7480.

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Photos ©2021 by Bennie White

Detective Dwaine Green

DWAINE GREEN WAS RECENTLY PROMOTED TO THE POSITION OF DETECTIVE IN THE OAK PARK PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT. This promotion became effective on March 8, 2021 for the six-year Oak Park Public Safety Department veteran. Detective Green is a highly decorated and respected officer, as is highlighted by the numerous citations he has throughout his career.

He also serves as a Field Training Officer for newly-hired recruits and is a select member of the Comeback Quick Response Team, which supports “Hope Not Handcuffs” and the “Families Against Narcotics Program.” Both programs assist citizens who are challenged by a substance-use disorder.

The decision to promote Green to detective was based not only on his successes as an officer, but also on his personality traits. Detective Green is intelligent, knowledgeable and possess a keen sense of awareness, all valuable skills for a detective. He also has a natural ability to relate with all citizens. Detective Green is a key asset to the Investigation Bureau and the Public Safety Department is proud to have him.

Parking Officer Michael Foster & Public Safety Officer Steve Arbenowske

In addition to promoting Det. Green, the Public Safety Department also welcomed Michael Foster as a new Parking Enforcement Officer in July of 2021. Foster is an Oak Park resident and has several years of parking enforcement experience with the City of Ferndale. He has strong communication skills, which are further enhanced by his great personality.

Director Steve Cooper & Safety Officer Evan Beauchamp

Oak Park Public Safety Officer Evan Beauchamp was presented with a Director’s Commendation by Public Safety Director Steve Cooper at the Monday, Aug. 23 Council Meeting. Officer Beauchamp is one of the Department’s newest officers and completed the Fire Academy as the number one Academic Recruit amongst 23 fellow graduates.

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Photo ©2021 by Bennie White

HELLO FROM YOUR OAKLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS! We, Commissioners Charlie Cavell (representing Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods and Royal Oak Twp., and part of Oak Park) and Yolanda Charles (representing Lathrup Village and parts of Oak Park and Southfield), would like to take a moment to say that it has been an honor to serve the residents of Oak Park throughout 2021.

And it brings us both great pride to continue representing you on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners into 2022. As we adapt and move forward through this challenging time, we are committed to supporting our residents of all ages and backgrounds, in addition to our diverse businesses and organizations.

The Board of Commissioners recently adopted the 2022-2024 County Budget, which includes funds for a number of programs that will directly assist the residents of Oak Park. In the first year of the pandemic, Oak Park small businesses were awarded $2.3 million in grant funding from the County, and local government, educational institutions, non-profits, seniors, individuals, veterans, and libraries and community centers were awarded $3.9 million.

We look forward to bringing you more information about relief and support programs made possible through Oakland County’s American Rescue Plan Act funds as the Board works with County administration to find meaningful ways to get help to those who need it most.

IN ADDITION TO THOSE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC, the Board has spearheaded projects that impact all areas of life for Oakland County residents. Early in 2021, we both participated in a press conference at the Ferndale Housing Commission to launch the Fair Housing Initiative, aimed at ending source of income housing discrimination. We have also brought environmental sustainability initiatives to our communities, stood for County-wide equality initiatives and made efforts to make County government more accessible to the constituents we serve.

We thank you for your engagement and commitment to making your community a rewarding place for us all. As two commissioners serving their first terms on the Board, it’s been extremely gratifying to get to know Oak Park. From community groups to cultural events, every nook of the city has something to offer its residents and the county.

Please remember that the Board of Commissioners is here for all of you, so do not hesitate to reach out to your commissioner for any reason at all. For more information about the Board, visit www.oakgov.com/boc. For the most up-to-date information, sign up for our newsletters from our commissioner pages, which can also be found on the website.

Commissioners Charlie Cavell (District 18) and Yolanda Charles (District 17)

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HELLO, THIS IS REGINA WEISS, YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE. I am a proud resident of Oak Park, and I serve the communities of Berkley, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, and Royal Oak Township in the State House.

I was elected to serve in 2020 and am a member of the House Appropriations Committee. I have been enjoying working for you in Lansing over the past year. Before I was elected, I was a teacher in the Detroit Public Schools system, and a member of the Oak Park City Council.

This year in Lansing, I have been fighting for the people of Oak Park to ensure that your needs are being met. One of my main priorities when advocating for you was securing the necessary funds in the 2022 fiscal year state budget to support public safety, community health, infrastructure, and parks and recreation projects. I voted yes on our budget that did this and much more.

Some of the budget highlights include an allocation of $15 million dollars for lead removal and home repair grants and approximately $2.7 billion in federal supplemental relief funds, including mortgage assistance and home repairs. In addition, there was a five percent increase in higher education and community college operations payments, and the Michigan Reconnect & Futures for Frontliners tuition scholarship programs were fully funded to create opportunities for Michiganders seeking educational advancement. I passionately believe that investing in these programs will benefit all members of our community.

As Minority Vice Chair of the School Aid & Department of Education Subcommittee on Appropriations, I was particularly proud of the K-12 budget that we passed for fiscal year 2022. This budget was historic in many ways it marked the most funding ever allocated for teachers and students in our state’s history and closed the funding gap for the first time ever. The budget also included a large expansion of the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), ensuring that all eligible four-year-olds can attend a pre-K program, and increased the funding per-pupil for GSRP to match K-12 at $8,700 per-pupil for the first time.

FOR OUR DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY, I was able to secure funding for Kids Kicking Cancer, a student healing-and-wellness initiative piloted in Oak Park Public Schools. This program will significantly help our children and give them the resources needed to be successful in their everyday lives. I also secured grant funding for the Royal Oak Township Recreation Center.

Another project I have been working on in Lansing is House Bill 5270, which provides districts who have experienced declining enrollment with funding to stabilize their budgets. Many schools have struggled to get kids back in the classroom since the pandemic started, and this has caused less funding to go to those schools, leading to budgetary and staffing uncertainties.

I hope that as an increased number of people are vaccinated and other safety measures are followed, students and parents will feel more comfortable coming back to the classroom. I believe our students are more successful when learning in-person. As a teacher who taught through the pandemic, I did my best and so did my students, but the hours of Zoom instruction do not compare to having students in classrooms. I will make sure to continue fighting for the passage of this bill to ensure schools have the resources needed throughout the duration of the pandemic.

As always, I will continue fighting for you in Lansing. My office phone number is 517-373-0478 and my email is reginaweiss@house.mi.gov. Please reach out to my office with any thoughts you have on legislation or any issues that come up.

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By Kim Marrone
Director of Economic Development & Planning, City of Oak Park

IN OAK PARK, WE CONTINUE TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES SOAR, NOW WITH THE HELP OF A REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The new South Oakland Area Regional (SOAR) Chamber of Commerce primarily serves members in Oak Park, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge and Hazel Park. SOAR replaces the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce and will now better focus on supporting businesses in Oak Park and other surrounding communities by providing networking opportunities, business support and advocacy, community partnerships and professional resources.

The idea to expand the reach of the former Ferndale Chamber of Commerce to Oak Park and beyond began with a meeting between SOAR President/CEO Joy R. Wells and Oak Park Mayor Marian McClellan in November of 2019 to discuss logistics. Although the impending pandemic brought some hiccups, it also allowed enough downtime for the creation of SOAR to be worked out.

Since then, the Chamber has held networking events and worked to engage the hundreds of businesses that encompass South Oakland County.

The SOAR Chamber of Commerce is focused on B2B (business-to-business) networking opportunities. Most of the events are designed to encourage members to get to know each other, exchange ideas, and share information about resources, such as virtual Coffee Connections or in-person After Hours networking events. The Chamber offers a monthly e-newsletter, which highlights member businesses and community events. Of course, a business doesn’t have to be located in any one of the primary communities to be a member. I encourage everyone to sign up on their web site to receive their e-newsletters and event notifications. A kickoff networking event will be scheduled in the near future somewhere in Oak Park.

To say I am excited to have the SOAR Chamber of Commerce as a resource to us in Oak Park would be an understatement. When I first began working in the City of Oak Park it was something our business community asked for but never had. We worked off and on with the Ferndale Chamber to include our business community but our businesses never really felt connected. When they made the decision to include other communities and expand into Oak Park, I was elated.

NOT ONLY DOES THIS ORGANIZATION PROMOTE the economic growth and stability necessary to allow our community to continue to thrive, but it also mirrors many of the same values we have in Oak Park. One of the SOAR Chamber of Commerce’s main tenets is diversity and inclusion, something we work to include in all of our decisions and practice in Oak Park. The SOAR Chamber also puts a high value on partnership, collaboration, connection and service.

The Chamber’s values are not only exhibited in the outreach events and services, but also in those that comprise the Board. Currently, the SOAR Chamber Board of Directors consists of 50 percent business leaders and 50 percent local government officials, all of whom are committed to listening to, identifying and addressing the needs of their communities. In Oak Park, Mayor Marian McClellan and myself sit on the Board and we are looking for local Oak Park business owners who would love to join the board as well. If you are an interested business owner looking to get involved please reach out to me.

With such representation and involvement from Oak Park leaders, and the same commitment from our South Oakland County neighbors, I am certain the SOAR Chamber of Commerce will become the regional heart of economic and community development. The more diverse voices we have at the table, the better prepared we are to secure resources and opportunities for the benefit of all our members.

I cannot wait to see what is in store for this next chapter of economic growth and stability.

To learn more about the SOAR Chamber of Commerce visit www.southoaklandarearegionalcc.org or call (248) 542-2160

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Photo ©2021 by Bennie White

THE OAK PARK CITY COUNCIL IS THE LEGISLATIVE AND GOVERNING BODY FOR THE CITY OF OAK PARK. City Council is comprised of a Mayor, a Mayor Pro Tem, and three City Council Members who are elected at-large. The voters elect the Mayor and the City Council Members, while the Mayor Pro Tem position is determined by the greatest number of votes by the voters in the previous election.

Currently, Marian McClellan serves as the Mayor of Oak Park, Julie Edgar serves as the Mayor Pro Tem and Soloman Radner, Carolyn Burns and Shaun Whitehead all serve as Council members. Whitehead is the newest addition to the Council; he was sworn-in in January of 2021 after former Council Member Regina Weiss resigned because she was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. From January to November of 2021, Whitehead served as an appointed member to Council because of the timing of the vacancy from Weiss’ resignation. Following the November 2021 election though Whitehead joined his peers as an elected member of Council.

In the last year the Oak Park City Council has witnessed a great deal of change, both in relation to the pandemic and how the City has been transforming. In 2020, Oak Park joined communities across the nation taking precautions to best protect the health and safety of employees and residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic. City facilities have since opened to the public, but safety measures remain in place. And, despite the challenges COVID has presented a great deal has been accomplished in Oak Park.

“Despite the obstacles presented by Covid, especially the inability to meet in person, we surprisingly accomplished a lot in 2021,” said Mayor Pro Tem Edgar. “We got new trash receptacles to keep our city cleaner, we held steady on water rates, passed a fair housing ordinance, and began planning for a new dog park that could open in the spring.”

Mayor Pro Tem Edgar also serves as a member of the Dog Park subcommittee and City Council liaison to the Parks & Recreation Commission.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS ALSO BEEN BOOMING in Oak Park, a great deal of which is driven by policy.

“Small businesses, especially little restaurants, are the engine of our local economy,” said Mayor McClellan. “And so much of what has been opening in Oak Park has been changing us from a once subpar community to one that is spectacular.”

The new businesses in the Water Tower Social District have brought new food, beer, coffee and additional beverage selections to the City. And, the revitalization of the Nine Mile Corridor is another example of vision, dedication and innovation coming together to further build on Oak Park’s thriving community.

The development of the FedEx Ground Distribution Center at the former Detroit Armory site helped shift Oak Park from a surviving community to one that is thriving. Building on the original 2015 armory site announcement, as of today, the City of Oak Park can officially say that the former Detroit Armory site will now be fully developed in the coming months. Between FedEx, the new Forgotten Harvest headquarters and a newly approved development by OPUS Development Company, Oak Park is again welcoming new businesses.

The site approved for the OPUS spec build out is 17.3 acres, where a 275,484-square-foot warehousing and storage spec building will be constructed.

A diverse community, a dedicated community, a patient community and a community represented by committed, forward thinking and experienced officials have all led to a thriving community. And…more is yet to come!

“The change in this City is astounding,” said Mayor McClellan. “Our trajectory has completely changed, for the better.”

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THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER SEAMLESS ELECTION, OAK PARK. Thank you to the 5,098 voters who cast a ballot and supported the democratic process. Thank you to those who supported the City of Oak Park by renewing the Public Safety millage and the Solid Waste millage. Thank you to those who ran for City Council, showing that their dedication to this City is unwavering. Thank you to all the volunteers and Oak Park staff who worked this election, allowing each voice to be heard.

Elections are the crux of the democratic process, a culmination of each voice in a community. In Oak Park we have a diverse community, one where I am proud to say each voice is heard and represented. This election reaffirmed that those elected to represent the best interest of Oak Park have considered the individual needs of residents while also focusing on the long-term vision and success of the community. As the City Manager, I am grateful for the trust the City Council and the community has instilled in me to help transform Oak Park.

And, as the 39th City Council was sworn-in on Nov. 8, with Marian McClellan as Mayor and Carolyn Burns and Shaun Whitehead as Council Members and Julie Edgar as Mayor Pro-Tem, I am certain we will continue to push forward on the path of excellence.

FOR A COMMUNITY TO EXPERIENCE SUCCESS, many factors must align. Community goals, short-term and long-term visions, practicing of the policies preached, funding to implement the policies and projects, and trust and patience in those elected and appointed to serve. In Oak Park, the stars have aligned for this success and as we move into the next phase of optimization, I am eager to see how our community continues to come together, building on our diverse pool of ideas.

As my excitement for Oak Park’s future continues to build, I must congratulate Mayor McClellan and Council Members Burns and Whitehead for their success at the polls. The resounding confidence this community has in our leaders is a sign of greater things to come.

I also want to congratulate the leaders of our neighboring communities who were elected, and re-elected too. For Oak Park, Southeast Oakland County and the entire Metropolitan Detroit Region we must be able to work together with our neighbors, to share ideas, collaborate and celebrate each other’s successes, for if one of us is successful, we all are.

AND FINALLY, WHILE I HAVE EXPRESSED MY GRATITUDE for the passage of the Public Safety and Solid Waste millage renewals, I must take a moment to highlight what this means for Oak Park. With the support of these fundamental funding mechanisms, residents will continue to receive the services they have come to expect, such as community policing and environmentally friendly solid waste practices.

And, with these services being supported by millage revenues we will continue to not only provide them, but also utilize our General Fund dollars to support additional services and projects to optimize Oak Park.

So, thank you again Oak Park for showing up to support your community and helping us to continue down our path of excellence.

Sincerely, City Manager Erik Tungate
City Of Oak Park

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Photos ©2021 by Bennie White

NINE YEARS AGO, CITY MANAGER ERIK TUNGATE told me that when economic development reaches a certain level it gains momentum and starts snowballing. Looking around at our stagnant City in 2011, it didn’t seem likely. Fast-forward to now and that stagnation has turned into momentum, and now Oak Park is where it’s happening. Many years of gathering community input, detailed planning, acquiring funding, ordering equipment and installing it are culminating right now. It’s an exciting time to be in Oak Park.

This momentum has occurred because of several different projects, ideas, and of course bountiful support. First, we began to beautify the City by planting gardens of cheerful yellow sunflowers. Flowerpots on main streets also started to appear, bringing pops of color and the feeling that folks around here cared about keeping up appearances. Spirits were raised and hope was reborn.

Then, new City signs sprung up. The tacky cyclone fencing at I-696 and Coolidge was replaced by a memorable, award-winning gateway to the City of Oak Park. It brands and beautifies the City and welcomes walkers and those on bikes.

Improvements to Nine Mile Road have also been creating momentum. The Nine Mile Redesign is changing the trajectory of that neighborhood. The street diet, the new trailhead, pocket parks, bike lanes and back-in parking for businesses and the attractively landscaped pocket parks at Sherman and Seneca are among the new amenities helping us to attract families to that area. The linear park on the south side of Nine Mile will only encourage more families to visit the area. Lovely new fencing in that area also has added some visual unity.

ELEVEN MILE ROAD IS ALSO GETTING A MAKEOVER; It has been rezoned so abandoned tool-and-dye shops can be reborn as bistros like Oak Park Social, breweries like Dog & Pony Show Brewing and Unexpected Craft Brewing Company, and an upscale coffee/entertainment center called Berkley Coffee in Oak Park. We also are taking advantage of the new state law that allows Social Districts, encouraging people to visit the local businesses and meander from one to the next. This once under-used district is transforming into a fun destination for young folks, though my husband who is not so young also loves going to Dog & Pony for a coke and some BBQ.

While we love our businesses and improving our corridors, we also love our parks and our dogs in Oak Park. I know from walking and talking to voters that we own a lot of dogs in Oak Park. And, with such a population a dog park only seemed appropriate. The Dog Park Committee of the Recreation Commission is making plans for a beautiful dog park on Scotia past Albany for dogs of all sizes. With plans on this plugging way, we hope to have more updates too.

Other projects of interest that are helping to popularize Oak Park forward include supporting new housing alternatives to meet the needs of young professionals who prefer to bike or bus around without car costs. The City has secured one loft development for Nine Mile right by a bus stop and a Mogo Station.

WITH SO MUCH PLANNED WE ARE STILL LOOKING TO THE FUTURE for ways to maximize our development dollars by cooperating with neighboring cities and writing grants together to benefit the region. We are also working with Berkley and Huntington Woods to qualify for beautification grants and road diet funds. We will be adding specialized gardens that absorb flood water in the city. I’m very proud of these multi-City initiatives!

Our diverse, friendly residents are our greatest asset in attracting young singles, couples and families. We are developing Oak Park in accordance with our vision based on our hometown values. A great deal of new infrastructure, new events and new energy has already happened or is in final planning stages. The best is yet to come.

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Photos ©2021 by Bennie White

THOSE DRIVING ALONG NINE MILE RD IN RECENT WEEKS have witnessed a ninja-like play structure popup, lollipop-inspired structures lining parts of the park, and several other play structures finding their permanent placement.

All of these structures along the Nine Mile Linear Park are meant to bring inspiration, fun and enjoyment to those who live in and visit Oak Park. The sensory panels will increase awareness and social interaction, the ninja warrior course will increase children’s agility (and fun) and the other amenities will allow for spinning, jumping, swinging, and bouncing!

For the Linear Park, a great deal of research and review was conducted by City officials and industry professionals to ensure it is safe for use by children, families and the community as a whole. Additionally, in the Spring, landscaping will be installed to serve as an additional buffer between the equipment and the road, and fencing will soon be placed around the Sensory Station. The City will also be installing additional traffic-calming measures on Nine Mile to complement the ones installed at the beginning the Nine Mile Redesign project. Safety is the highest priority of this park, followed by fun of course!

To add to the fun, several pieces of public art will also soon be added, providing more beauty for the community to enjoy. And, while the addition on the Linear Park certainly signifies transformation of the Nine Mile Corridor, this is just the latest improvement.

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THIS AREA HAS BEEN TRULY TRANSFORMED, with dedicated bike lanes, a road diet, lovely pocket parks and a stately trailhead. And wait – there’s more! Following the completion of the Linear Park, a connector park along the Linear Park, between Troy Street and Nine Mile Road, will also be added. Once complete, this small passthrough park will act as an extension of the Linear Park, connecting the neighborhood to the south to the Nine Mile Corridor. It will include many new play elements for children:

• Small Zip Line – A fun way for kids to travel from one end of the park to the other.

• “Sensory panels” – Proven to increase awareness and social interaction.

• Two play features (one spinning, one bouncing) that are accessible to children with mobility devices (for example a wheelchair).

Amenities for adults also being added include benches and a picnic table (accessible by wheelchairs) to relax in the shade.

The Nine Mile Redesign is a largely grant-funded public improvement project that aims to transform the Nine Mile Corridor into a walkable, vibrant public space packed with amenities for users of all ages and abilities. Through the added amenities discussed above, Oak Park is well on its way to completing the original vision.

All of the incremental pieces of the Nine Mile Redesign are coming together to create a string of meaningful public spaces for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities to visit, stay, play and shop. Together, Oak Park is revitalizing the Nine Mile Corridor by providing the amenities and increased recreational opportunities residents desire, ultimately sparking a new beginning for Oak Park.

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By Mary Meldrum

FORGOTTEN HARVEST IS CELEBRATING THEIR NEW HEADQUARTERS AT 15000 8 MILE ROAD (at Hubble, a quarter-mile east of Greenfield). The new campus is a 78,000-square-foot purpose-specific building large enough to bring all their employees under the one roof. The warehouse will have ample space to house, sort and refrigerate more fresh nutritious food for Metro Detroiters. Chris Ivey has been with Forgotten Harvest since 2018, helping to make sure no one in Metro Detroit needlessly goes hungry. Chris’ daily responsibilities include marketing and communications both internally and externally for Forgotten Harvest. He also recruits volunteers and works with the Development Department as they do fundraising for the organization.

“This new warehouse will have volunteer opportunities for approximately 60-70 people a day. We have two ways Forgotten Harvest accepts food.” One method is receiving large bulk loads from distributors and manufacturers. They also have their grocery trucks, the smaller box trucks that travel to Kroger, Trader Joes, Meijer’s and Costco where they rescue nutritious food from those organizations. This includes the “seconds” or the ugly or bruised fruits, which are all still edible, just not the prettiest.

Chris goes on to explain the new warehouse: “Right now, the grocery rescue is picked up in morning and delivered in the afternoon. With the new model, all the food will be brought into the new warehouse, sorted by food type and mixed more equitably at every distribution site with the larger bulk loads, so they can be delivered daily in a more equitable mix of food types to every location. This will result in a more balanced plate for everyone receiving our services,” explains Chris.

“Right now their distribution network looks very balanced, but if you look down the line, not every distribution place gets the same type of food. Forgotten Harvest is a large organization and reconfiguring the distribution process is a big job. The goal is to make sure each delivery site gets a balanced nutritional plate. We don’t order our food. We get what we get. Right now, we will have a lot of potatoes, onions and things like that. With the new model we will have a better variety and deliver the right food at the right pace at the right time.

“WE SHOULD HAVE THE WHOLE STAFF UNDER ONE ROOF by next Summer. The pandemic proved that the access and distribution network is very fragile because it’s led by volunteers. The access points to the services we provide are the biggest challenge. To have a distribution point in every neighborhood is the need and our goal.”

As Chris explains, “We can’t make it sustainable, and then all of a sudden we’re not there. We have to set it up to keep it up, once a community starts to count on us.”

The other challenge is volunteers. Fortunately, last year Forgotten Harvest had over 13,000 volunteers who gave 55,000 volunteer hours. They always need more and look to corporate, church groups, youth groups, etc. to help out.

When asked about his vision for Forgotten Harvest, Chris shared that “A peek into the future of the organization has me super excited. Our strategic plan will be Board-certified soon. Next June we will be into the new building. It’s a sense of excitement for where we are going.”

Chris is a long-time Metro Detroit resident and the father of two daughters, one in college in Michigan and one a junior in high school. Chris takes advantage of as much of Michigan’s offerings as he can.

Forgotten Harvest
21800 Greenfield Road, Oak Park, MI 48237
Phone: (248) 967-1500 | Fax: (248) 967-1510

 

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