West Bloomfield spotlights fall parks programming schedule

WEST BLOOMFIELD — For some, one of the appeals of living in West Bloomfield is the programming that is offered by the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission.

With the 2024 summer season now in the past, the fall programming schedule is underway.

Although no more hayrides are scheduled this year, which is a popular attraction for many, there are still plenty of offerings.

West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission employees recently discussed some of them.

A community staple in recent years has been the Heroes Appreciation Breakfast, which offers military veterans the opportunity to enjoy food and live entertainment free of charge. This year’s event is scheduled to take place at West Bloomfield Middle School, located at 6000 Orchard Lake Road, from 9-10:30 a.m. Nov. 2. Veterans can bring one guest for free. For others, the cost is $15 per person.

“This is a great community, collaborative event,” said Meagan Tehako, who is the marketing communications manager for the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission. “We have some guest speakers lined up. The business community really stepped up to support this event so that we could offer it for free to the veterans. We have, I think, 16 businesses that have sponsored the event, and our media partner is Civic Center TV, so they’ll be broadcasting the event live. If there’s any veterans, maybe, that are homebound or can’t make it to the event, they can still enjoy it from the comfort of their home.”

Civic Center TV airs on Channel 15 on Comcast and Channel 99 on AT&T.

According to Tehako, the Heroes Appreciation Breakfast is in partnership with the West Bloomfield School District, the West Bloomfield Township Public Library and West Bloomfield Township.

“Little Hikers” is set to take place from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 7 at the Recreation Activities Center, located at 4640 Walnut Lake Road. According to Lauren Azoury, who is a park naturalist supervisor for the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission, it is part of a series, with outings scheduled the first Thursday of every month. Even children who are still young enough to be in a stroller are welcome to attend. She said the cost is $3 per family.

“We enjoy the trail and do fun activities that keep kids engaged along the way, so different crafts go on the trail (and) singing silly nature songs,” Azoury said. “That time of year there’s a lot we can do with fall leaves, so we’ll be exploring a lot of leaf play.”

“Senior Hike” is another series that is offered. According to Azoury, the hikes are scheduled monthly on Wednesdays. The next one is scheduled from 2-3:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Marshbank Park, located at 2805 Hiller Road in West Bloomfield. There is no charge.

“Our ‘Little Hikers’ and our senior seasonal hikes are monthly, that way you get to see a little of what each season offers, as the seasons change,” Azoury said. “We get to talk about new things, explore, (and) discover new things along the way.”

“Nature Explorers’ Discovery Days” is scheduled to take place from 8-11 a.m. Nov. 3. and from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Recreation Activities Center. According to Azoury, it’s a “free opportunity to come and explore our nature room.”

“There’s live animals on display,” she said. “There’s always a free craft and then a lot to explore in the natural outdoor play area. There’s a sensory garden (and) a water wall, so it’s a great place to come and explore.”

A campfire cookout is slated to take place from 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Recreation Activities Center.It is for ages 5 and up at a cost of $12 for residents and $14 for nonresidents.

“Oftentimes, we think s’mores, and those are easy to do and fun and enjoyable, but this one focuses more on other unique foods, so we’ll make things like walking tacos and different recipes you might’ve not tried before,” Azoury said. “So you’ll learn the basics of campfire cooking and make a three-course meal over the campfire behind the Recreation Activities Center. … It’s a family program, so it’s great for adults with their kiddos as well.”

An astronomy hike, which is for teens and older, is scheduled from 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Recreation Activities Center. The cost is $7 for residents and $9 for nonresidents.

“We partner with the Oakland Astronomy Club, and they bring telescopes to highlight what’s going on in the night skies in the fall,” Azoury said. “There’s a lot that’s happening in the night skies in the fall time right now, so we’ll be able to view Saturn (and) Jupiter. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, it changes telescope viewing for us a little bit, but they still (get) a great experience and knowledge.”

“Honey Sommelier Tasting” is slated to take place from 6-8:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Marshbank Park. The cost is $110 for residents and $130 for nonresidents. According to Azoury, it is an adult event.

“It’s a little bit more of an elevated experience of sorts,” she said. “We get to join ‘Bees in the D,’ who have been through a unique training of honey-tasting around the world. They will share their expertise about how honey is made and all the different regions it comes from, the different varieties, and how it changes the flavor. There’s fun snacks along the way, as well.”

“High Tops & High Heels,” which is a mother-son dance, is set to take place from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 22 at Glen Oaks Golf Course, located at 30500 W. 13 Mile Road in Farmington Hills. The cost is $40.

“It’s a special night out for moms and sons or mother-figures,” Tehako said. “The attire is semi-formal and includes a nice dinner buffet. There’s a balloon artist. We’ll have a really interactive DJ, and then there’s some other activity stations as well.”

Programs put together by West Bloomfield Parks have been a big hit for some residents over the years.

“They’re really popular and it’s a lot of fun, but especially in the fall season, I feel like (it’s) part of people’s annual tradition that they look forward to with their families every year,” Tehako said. “It’s really fun to see the families coming back every year, watching the kids grow up. It’s nice to be part of their family traditions.”

Azoury said that “it’s very community-building” to have programs in outdoor spaces.

“Executing an event and seeing people’s enjoyment of it is great,” she said.

To register, or for more information, call (248) 451-1900 or visit wbparks.org.