Clark Park Coalition

CLARK PARK COALITION EXISTS TO PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF DIVERSE, HIGH-QUALITY RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL AND MENTORING PROGRAMS FOR SOUTHWEST DETROIT FAMILIES PROMOTING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WHICH HELPS OUR YOUTH GROW INTO RESPONSIBLE, SELF-CONFIDENT ADULTS. CLARK PARK COALITION IS A PARTNER OF THE DETROIT RECREATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

2023 WAS ANOTHER BUSY YEAR AT CLARK PARK. IT STARTED OFF WITH THE OPENING OF OUR 2023 LEARN-TO-SKATE AND HOCKEY SEASON WHERE WE AGAIN REGISTERED NEARLY 150 YOUTHS FOR THE WINTER PROGRAM. WE ALSO PRODUCED NEARLY 35,000 IN REVENUE FROM RENTALS OF THE OUTDOOR ICE RINK. JANUARY 21 WAS OUR ANNUAL WINTER CARNIVAL AND HOCKEY CLASSIC FUNDRAISER AND EVENT. NEARLY 1,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED AND SPENT THE AFTERNOON ICE SKATING, ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS, ENJOYING THE PETTING ZOO AND CARRIAGE RIDES AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE CARNIVAL HAD TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY. THE EVENING'S MEN'S AND WOMEN'S HOCKEY GAMES BROUGHT IN ADDITIONAL FANS TO THE PARK, AS THEY ENJOYED WATCHING THE TEAMS PLAY THEIR GAMES AND CHEERING THEM ON. WE RAISED 40,000 FOR GENERAL OPERATING. SUMMER'S BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL PROGRAMS WERE A BIG HIT AGAIN WITH RITA TYLER AND MORRIS BLACKWELL SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE SPORT, AS MORE THAN 100 YOUTHS LEARNED THE BASICS OF THE SPORT. LACROSSE PROGRAMING CONTINUES TO GROW UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF VOLUNTEER COACH LIAM MCILROY. PROGRAMMING TAKES PLACE IN THE SPRING AND FALL MONTHS WITH MORE THAN 30 YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALL AGES JOINING IN ON THE FUN. THE BIG NEWS FOR 2023 WAS THE COMPLETION OF PHASE I OF THE CITY'S RENOVATIONS FOR THE PARK WHICH INCLUDED A NEW PLAYGROUND WITH A SPLASH PAD AND ALL HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE EQUIPMENT. IT ALSO INCLUDED EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, A BASKETBALL COURT, NEW TENNIS AND PICKLE BALL COURTS, A VOLLEYBALL COURT AND FUTSOL COURTS. WE EVEN HAVE OUTDOOR PING PONG TABLES. THESE NEW RENOVATIONS PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING SUCH AS OUR NEW PICKLE BALL LEAGUE. WE HOPE TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAMMING EVEN FURTHER IN SUMMER OF 2024. OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE DETROIT PARKS COALITION CONTINUES TO BE A SUCCESS, AS WE SHARE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WITH THE OTHER PARKS THAT ARE PART OF THE COLLABORATION. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PISTONS FOUNDATION PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE COALITION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUMMER PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDED SOCCER, TENNIS INSTRUCTION, AND ARTS & CRAFTS. ONCE AGAIN CLARK PARK PARTNERED WITH THE DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (DSO) TO HOLD THE ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL IN JULY OF 2023 WHERE NEARLY 500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES CAME TO THE PARK TO ENJOY THE MUSIC PRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF THE SYMPHONY, MEXICAN FOLK DANCERS, MUSICAL DEMONSTRATIONS, AND LOTS OF INTERACTIVE GAMES AND PRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. ATTENDEES ENJOYED SUMMER TREATS SUCH AS GRILLED HOTDOGS, LEMONADE, AND WATERMELON, WHILE THEY ENJOYED THE FESTIVITIES. EACH YEAR WE HAVE MANY GROUPS WHO COME TO VOLUNTEER AT THE PARK, AND 2023 WAS NO EXCEPTION. CRANBROOK STUDENTS, MERCY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND MANY OTHER GROUPS JOINED IN TO PREPARE THE PARK FOR BOTH THE SUMMER AND WINTER SEASONS. AND, IN JUNE NEARLY 150 FORD HISPANIC GROUP VOLUNTEERS SPENT THE DAY PICKING UP TRASH, PAINTING, MAKING REPAIRS, AND PLANTING FLOWERS IN A MAJOR BEAUTIFICATION EFFORT TO GET THE PARK READY FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS. FINALLY, WE WORKED WITH STRATEGIZ, A CONSULTING FIRM TO COMPLETE A 3-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ORGANIZATION. IT WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST. BOTH THE BOARD AND STAFF ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE IT AN INTEGRAL PART OF ALL OUR PLANNING, AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO EXECUTE THE STRATEGIES PUT FORTH IN THE FINAL PRODUCT. IT WAS A LOT OF WORK AND INCLUDED INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS FROM THE STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS EFFORT HAS PUT US ON A PATH TO GROWING AND SUCCEEDING, AS WE MOVE TO A NEW PHASE OF CLARK PARK'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNTIY IN WHICH IT SERVES.