West Bloomfield parks offer multiple fall programming options

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Although summer is nearly over, plenty of opportunities still exist to have fun this year.

Brittany Trout is a recreation programmer for the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission, and she recently highlighted some of the activities that the commission has scheduled.

Trout said that the Senior Health Expo, which is scheduled to take place 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 4 at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, provides healthy tips for seniors, along with resources for individuals who may be looking for doctors.

“The Senior Health Expo is a great chance for seniors to come out and gather a lot of information for all the different care that they may need,” Trout said. “The expo’s a great way to get out and meet those in the community that could help them. … There is a free boxed lunch to the first 200 pre-registered participants.”

The expo is free to attend.

Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital is located at 6777 W. Maple Road.

Group hayrides are scheduled for Oct. 12, 13, 19 and 20 at Marshbank Park.

“There are different time slots, which range from about 5 (p.m.) all the way to, I believe, 7:30 to 8 is our last one,” Trout said. “It’s great for a group of people and all ages.”

According to Trout, the hayrides have been a hit.

“Our group hayrides take place in the evening, and you’re able to pick a group to come with you,” she said. “It’s up to 30 people, and you can pick the group that you would like to invite. You can have as many as you want to, as little as you want. It’s an intimate setting, and you go around at Marshbank Park and you get to hear from our naturalist some nature tips in education, along with enjoying the beautiful fall colors that we see at Marshbank, which, that park is just beautiful because we have so many trees.”

Marshbank Park is located at 2805 Hiller Road.

Abby Burgess is a marketing associate with West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation. She also weighed in on the group hayrides.

“The group hayrides are a wonderful opportunity to get to experience fall and also get to learn a little bit about nature,” Burgess said. “Those are at Marshbank Park and they are a 20-minute tractor-drawn hayride.”

According to Burgess, the cost for group hayrides is $135 for residents and $150 for nonresidents, and includes cider, doughnuts, four blankets and a tour of Marshbank Park with some “nature stops” along the way with naturalists.

The Heroes Appreciation Breakfast recognizes individuals who have served in the military.

This year’s breakfast is scheduled for 8-10:30 a.m. Nov. 7 at West Bloomfield Middle School.

Trout referred to the Heroes Appreciation Breakfast as a programming “staple.”

“Our Heroes Appreciation is a breakfast we like to put on (for) our special heroes,” she said. “They’re able to bring a guest; we just ask for registration, as space is limited. And then we include the breakfast, and we have special speakers. … They get to enjoy the time there.”

West Bloomfield Middle School is located at 6000 Orchard Lake Road.

Burgess shared her perspective on the Heroes Appreciation Breakfast.

“We partner with West Bloomfield Township, the West Bloomfield School District and the West Bloomfield Library to host that event, and it’s our chance to appreciate the hard work and sacrifices made by those in the military and a nice way to recognize individuals and their families,” she said. “It’s open to veterans and nonveterans. Our veterans who attend are able to bring one guest for free, and it’s free for our veterans. Additional guests or nonveterans can attend for $15.”

According to Burgess, the event is scheduled to include a breakfast, a presentation from the West Bloomfield Honor Guard, a guest speaker and live entertainment.

The “Ball for All” is a family dance that is set to take place 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit.

The registration fee is $27 for residents and $32 for nonresidents.

According to Trout, those who register prior to Oct. 19 will save $5 per person.

“This is new for us this year, and we are hoping this will be a great excuse for everyone in the family to come out and have a dance party,” she said. “It is gonna be held at the JCC, and it will include appetizers, (a) DJ, a little photo area, and then a full night of making memories with the whole family to get dressed up and glammed out.”

The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit is located at 6600 W. Maple Road.

A mother and son dance, titled “High Tops & High Heels,” is scheduled to take place 6-8 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit.

The fee is $35 for residents and $40 for nonresidents.

“It’s a night that’s geared to hold onto the tradition of mom and son, or (whatever) adult would like to accompany, to come out, and a whole dinner is included,” Trout said. “We’ll have professional photographers there to take pictures, which is optional for the families, and then a DJ, along with some yummy food for everyone to enjoy.”

The Harvest Day Lunch is set to take place noon-1:15 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Connect Senior Center, located at 33230 W. 14 Mile Road.

“The Harvest Day Lunch will be hosted at our new Connect space, and seniors are able to come out and enjoy a harvest lunch for the holiday theme of Thanksgiving,” Trout said. “A dish will be included.”

The fee is $11 for residents and $13 for nonresidents.

With the exception of the Senior Health Expo, registration is required for each of the scheduled events.

For more information, call (248) 451-1900 or visit wbparks.org.

Trout said that the fall activities offered by the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission are “pretty popular.”

“We are fortunate here because our community is so great,” she said. “They participate in a lot of our activities, and it’s nice that we have such a wide range, from our families, going up to our seniors, and holding these special times where they can create their memories and a reason to get out and enjoy what our parks have to offer. … Our No. 1 goal is to provide for the community, and the community is made up of people with different backgrounds, different things they like to do, different ages, (and) different hobbies.”

Burgess is a proponent of what fall has to offer.

“Fall is a wonderful time,” she said. “I know sometimes with the cooler weather people may not be as apt to go and explore the outdoors, but here with WB Parks, we, obviously, advocate for people to explore nature no matter what the season, and fall is obviously a very beautiful season here in Michigan.”