Going Home

We're all Friends of Belle Isle

Have we caught lightning in a bottle at Fletcher Field -- or could this grassroots effort to bring former and current residents of the city together to work on problems expand well beyond the park?

That's the question being pondered by some at the paper right now.

I firmly believe that we have come up with a blueprint to move into other neighborhoods almost immediately, tackle eyesores and sore spots across the city.

Still, others are skeptical, are not willing to allocate our limited resources to this project without having duplicated our success at Fletcher Field in some other spot.

Which got me to thinking last night: Where would be the best place to go next -- a spot that means a whole bunch to all Metro Detroiters, a landmark we would all love to return to its pristine state, to see our kids enjoy it as much as we once did? Then it hit me.

Belle Isle -- our very own Central Park.

Read more! »

Beginning to branch out

I have heard and read a number of times that people wish we'd look into more neighborhoods, that they like what we're doing, but wish we would go to the home they still think fondly of.

Happy and I started this blog to see what we could do if we went back to where he grew up and tried to help those living there now. We (well, mostly he) then shared our progress online and encouraged others from the old hood to come back and get involved, too.

We always hoped that it would catch on, and that we'd be able to try something similar all over the city.

As our work has picked up steam in Happy's neighborhood, we have been working behind the scenes to start expanding what we are doing, and today we are ready (well, as ready as we'll ever be) to start gradually reaching out to include other parts of the city.

Read more! »

Preparing for this Saturday's park cleanup

Four members of the Happy family, Imogene and I met in the park Tuesday to check out exactly what needs to be done this Saturday.

The park is in pretty good shape, overall. The swings are up and in working order, the rest of the equipment still has a good coat of paint, there is a new net on the basketball rim (not sure who did that, but thanks whoever you are!), and the grass has been cut.

There is definitely still work to be done on Saturday, though, so make sure to come out and pitch in!

This Saturday, May 17, we will be working on projects from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., then we'll be enjoying an afternoon in the park with a BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic) lunch, kite-flying and softball.

Read more! »

Thinking ahead: Widening the circle

In our quest to revive the community around Fletcher Field, we are always looking to bring more people into our circle of friends, to find as many of the disparate parts of this community as still exist and bring them together to help in rebuilding it.

Listed below are three places in Happy's old neighborhood that we want to learn more about: Exodus Missionary Baptist Church, Community Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, and a second neighborhood park.

Read more! »

Supporting the neighborhood

Several former Holy Name parishioners have asked me in recent days what they can do to move this effort in the old neighborhood forward.

Well, for one, you can help foster this budding coalition by taking part in a couple of upcoming events: a run and pancake breakfast at Mt. Olivet Cemetery on July 13, and a golf outing sponsored by Shield of Faith on Aug. 9.

Proceeds from the Mt. Olivet event will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan and Detroit City Outreach Program. For more information, email mtolivet4milerun@yahoo.com.

Click here for the registration form.

Proceeds from the Shield of Faith golf outing at Warren Valley Golf Course in Dearborn Heights will go toward buying school supplies for the children of the old neighborhood. Steve Gura and friends, this is all you. For more information, call Wesley Johnson at 313-884-0283.

Click here for the registration form.

Read more! »