NORTHVILLIANS,
Over the past few weeks, we have celebrated the greenspace and gardens around Northville, our River & Lake topography and the splendor of the summer season. This week, we will continue the theme by talking about one of our largest city greenspaces … Ford Field.
Before looking into past, present & future activities at Ford Field, let's look at what's happening today:
8/4-6 (Fri-Sun) – Buy Michigan Now Festival (Downtown Northville). Showcasing exclusively Michigan-based businesses that help fuel our economy. It’s a great opportunity to interact directly with local entrepreneurs and includes food & fun for the whole family. LINK
8/5 – Northville Historical Society's Garden Party Fundraiser, 4:00-7:00 PM (Mill Race Village). Enjoy food, beer, wine, live music, a silent auction, tour historic buildings and check out the Award-Winning Gardens! Link
8/12 – Steps Against Suicide: This 5K walk & event at Ford Field will benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. It’s for the whole family! Link
Mill Race Historical Village Sundays – Through the summer on most Sundays, 1-4 PM. Docents in Mill Race buildings share Northville’s history.
MUSIC IN TOWN
- MONDAYS – Music at Maybury – 7PM, through August 21st. Link
- TUESDAYS – Tunes on Tuesdays – Town Square Family Fun 10:30 AM. Link
- WEDNESDAY – Dancing in the Ville @ Town Square, 6:30PM - 8:00PM. Arthur Murray teachers provide lessons in a variety of dance genres (all levels). Link
- Northville Winery nightly music & food trucks (630 Baseline Rd). Link
- Summer Concerts, Friday & Saturday at 7:00 PM – Downtown. Link
Additional live Music can be heard at various locations around town.
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Now let's transition to Ford Field activities through the years...
Our Historic Ford Field Central Park facility on the Rouge River has a colorful and lively history, having served our community for many years:
1800’s – Activities at this location date back to the early 1800’s, when there was a mill in the area and people gathered to grind their crops. The Yerkes Family had the grist mill, and the Dubuars had a lumber company in the vicinity.
1919 – Henry Ford purchased these properties for the first of his Village Industries and eventually built an Albert Kahn state-of-the-art plant.
1940’s – Henry Ford gifted the use of the land as a greenspace to the Northville Community.
1946 – Exchange Club sponsored a project to begin work on the “Ford Recreation Field”, which was to be used by the School District and the recreation department. The forefathers of our city envisioned a greenspace for sports of all kinds, including a skating rink, and areas designed for community gatherings. The football & baseball fields were then laid out and a natural amphitheater for events was added. Thus, the Ford Recreation Field project was born.
Additional funds were raised to light the field and fence the entire area. As the electrician in town, my grandfather assisted with installing lights at the venue. Ford Field was dedicated at a football game between Northville & Plymouth where over 3500 attended, including dignitaries from throughout the region.
1950 – A modern scoreboard was added on the southwest corner of Ford Field.
1960’s – Some of the greatest teams from Northville played on this field under the leadership of Steve Juday, our athletic All-American quarterback who went on to lead MSU to a National Championship. One year in the early 60’s, this group of local athletes won ALL their football, basketball & baseball games.
1970’s onward – Through the years, Ford Field has hosted many activities including: Sporting events, Donkey Softball games, circuses, festivals, concerts, public speeches, ice rinks, movies, classic baseball game tournaments and in recent times, group rallies, food trucks and much more. It has truly been a central gathering point for all of us this past century.
A Quick History of Ford Field Facts
- 1820’s – site of the first grist mill in the Northville community
- 1940’s to 1960’s – used by Northville School District as athletic fields
- 1970’s – used by youth baseball and soccer programs
- 1993 – City receives ownership of the property from Ford Motor Company
- 1997 – Fort Griswold playscape is built by the Northville community
- 1999 – City of Northville receives grant to renovate Ford Field
- 2021 – State of Michigan grants Northville $910K for a new ADA entryway
- 2022 – Grant awarded for work on Serenity Point through Haley Stevens. Will assist in erosion control and improve drainage.
- 2023 – Grants for a new playscape and Randolph Drain upgrades currently in process
Today
The Ford Field Team is reviewing the Master Plan in cooperation with the Northville Parks & Recreation Department.
In June, an open house at City Hall offered a hands-on way for people to provide input on the future of Ford Field. Posters were created with photos and renderings of potential special features, such as arched entryways, fountains and splash pads. We also received input on native plants and built-in activities, such as outdoor tables for chess and ping-pong. The consultants said feedback from the event participants will be incorporated into the final plans. And, yes, public restrooms and a new play structure are part of those plans.
Ford Field has long been part of our DNA, and now we are looking at its future for our children, grandchildren … really our entire next generation. We all stand on the shoulders of those before us as we continue to develop and enhance this outstanding Northville asset for the benefit of all in the community.
When you stand in Ford Field, you are truly surrounded by the beauty of what Northville is all about: Hills, Water & Greenspace. We are enthused about the possibilities of this beloved Central Park treasure. I appreciate all that are involved in this project. If you desire to share your time & talents or just want to learn more, feel free to text, call or email me directly.
So take some time and enjoy Ford Field and all its surroundings.
Keep that Ford Field Faith!
Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
[email protected] / 248.505.6849
(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)
Click the following link to subscribe to this weekly newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/5a31f2ec1a6e/turnbullformayor
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