At the end of June 2025, Detroit’s largest urban park came alive with celebration as Friends of Rouge Park hosted an unforgettable Centennial Celebration. Marking 100 years of this beloved green space, the event drew Detroiters and visitors together for a day filled with food, music, outdoor activities, and community connection.

The festivities showcased everything that makes Rouge Park special. Food vendors, outdoor space activations, games and live music made the fun-filled day for the hundreds of residents and visitors who came to celebrate this milestone birthday of Detroit’s historic park.

This landmark celebration was made possible through the transformative partnership between Friends of Rouge Park and Gilbert Family Foundation. In early 2025, we made a historic three-year, $430,000 investment in the organization—the largest philanthropic gift Friends of Rouge Park has ever received. This groundbreaking support has fundamentally strengthened the nonprofit’s ability to preserve, maintain, protect, and elevate this treasured Detroit resource.

The Foundation’s investment enabled Friends of Rouge Park to hire its first Executive Director, Lindsay Pielack, who has brought two decades of experience from Keep Growing Detroit. Under her leadership, the organization has been able to expand community programming and strengthen operations, ensuring more Detroit residents can enjoy one of the city’s greatest assets.

“We are thrilled to begin this new partnership with Gilbert Family Foundation,” said Pielack at the time. “This generous gift will allow us to engage the community like never before, ensuring we both honor the historic legacy of Rouge Park and ensure its continued growth as an accessible, beautiful asset for all.”

The grant supports wide-ranging programming focused on environmental stewardship, active living, and arts and culture—all elements that were beautifully displayed during the Centennial Celebration. It also advances the execution of Friends of Rouge Park’s Master Plan, which aims to guide the park’s redesign and revitalization while preserving its natural areas.

As Rouge Park enters its second century, this partnership exemplifies how strategic philanthropy can amplify community organizations’ impact, creating lasting benefits for Detroit residents and preserving green spaces for future generations.