By: Jasmine West
Photos by: Dante Rionda
Hundreds of Detroit young people left Adams Butzel Recreation Center with new bicycles Friday as Mayor Mary Sheffield opened a 10-week summer initiative aimed at keeping youth active, connected and safe while school is out.
The launch of Occupy the Summer brought families together for a bike giveaway, carnival rides, community resources and a performance by Detroit rapper Skilla Baby. Sheffield also introduced the teams participating in the city’s inaugural Late Night Basketball League, with 135 players receiving free jerseys.
More than 1,500 young people have registered for activities connected to the program, according to the city.
Occupy the Summer expands on Occupy the Corner, the neighborhood initiative Sheffield started during her time on the Detroit City Council. The new citywide program will offer recreation, sports, neighborhood events and extended hours at several city facilities throughout the summer.
The initiative is also part of the six-point community safety plan Sheffield announced in April, with a focus on creating structured activities for young people and strengthening relationships between residents, city departments and community organizations.
“This is what Occupy the Summer is all about — coming together as a community to provide positive, fun-filled activities for our youth while they are out of school and resources to help support strong families,” Sheffield said.
Sheffield said the city wants young Detroiters to have safe places where they can spend time, develop their interests and build relationships during the summer.
“This initiative is about making sure every young person has a place to belong, positive outlets to explore, and a community that supports their success,” she said. “Throughout the summer, we will continue expanding opportunities that keep our youth engaged, empowered and connected as we build a safer, stronger Detroit together.”
The city distributed more than 700 bicycles to Detroit residents ages 18 and younger during the kickoff. The giveaway was supported by Sterling Group, Amazon and Ally, with Mike’s Garage supplying bikes and donating skateboards.
Bike giveaways became a familiar part of Sheffield’s Occupy the Corner events, where families gathered for neighborhood programming and access to city services. Sheffield said she wanted to continue the tradition as the program grew into Occupy the Summer.
“The bike giveaway was always one of the most anticipated highlights of our Occupy the Corner kickoff, and families consistently looked forward to it year after year,” Sheffield said. “As we launch Occupy the Summer, it was important to continue this tradition because a bike is more than a gift. It provides transportation, independence, recreation, and another opportunity for our youth to stay active, connected and engaged in their communities.”
The Late Night Basketball League will serve Detroiters ages 16 to 30 through structured games, mentoring and additional support services. Players will compete in three regions of the city at Heilmann Recreation Center on the east side, Adams Butzel Recreation Center on the west side and Kemeny Recreation Center in southwest Detroit.
League participants are also expected to receive free shoes and haircuts. The seven-week men’s league began Saturday, June 13. The men’s and women’s leagues will each conclude with a championship game.
Occupy the Summer will also extend operating hours at nine city recreation facilities. Crowell, Adams Butzel, Kemeny, Farwell, Heilmann, Butzel Family Center, Coleman A. Young Recreation Center, Helen Moore and the Northwest Activities Center will remain open until 11 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the summer.
The later hours are intended to give young people additional places to gather during evenings when families may have fewer affordable recreational options available.
Weekly neighborhood events will also be held across Detroit’s City Council districts. Similar to Occupy the Corner, the Friday gatherings will include activities, city resources, local vendors and cultural programming.
Upcoming events include a Juneteenth celebration at Crowell Recreation Center on June 19, a skate night at Corrigan Park on July 10 and a sports night at Lasky Recreation Center on July 17.
The city will partner with NW Goldberg Cares for HOOPFEST at Curtis Jones Park on Sunday, July 19. A small-business event and Sheff Tank pitch competition will be held July 24 at Stoepel Park No. 2, followed by an arts and culture night at Clark Park on July 31.
Bike Night is scheduled for Aug. 7 at the Joe Louis Greenway Pavilion, located at 8034 W. Warren Ave. The summer series will end Aug. 14 with a finale at the Diehl Club in partnership with Metro Detroit Youth Day.
Bicycle pickup will also be available at the Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Road; Coleman A. Young Recreation Center, 2751 Robert Bradby Drive; and Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S. Fort Street.
Additional program information is available at OccupyTheSummer.com.
