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Inspiring Our Community to Activate and Celebrate Detroit's Green Spaces, One Park at a Time
Empowering Detroit’s communities to take ownership of our parks, connect with the beauty of nature, and work together to create a greener, more sustainable future. Through local stewardship and shared experiences, we’re fostering a sense of pride, unity, and purpose—helping to build a city where green spaces thrive, and every person plays a part in shaping a healthier community for generations to come.

Our Backyard Detroit (OBD) is a community-driven movement that brings Detroiters together to nurture and activate our local parks and green spaces. Through hands-on workshops, exciting events, and leadership coaching we provide opportunities for residents to roll up their sleeves and take pride in their parks, become stewards, advocate for the community, and create positive change. Whether you’re passionate about beautification, organizing events, or simply enjoying the outdoors with like-minded neighbors, OBD offers a place for everyone to get involved, build meaningful connections, and contribute to a more vibrant Detroit. Let’s create parks that aren’t just places to visit—but thriving community hubs that bring us together, spark creativity, and embrace sustainability. Join us in building a stronger, cleaner, and greener Detroit—one park at a time.”
Why Get Involved?
Whether you're a longtime resident, a new neighbor, or someone who simply wants to make a difference, joining OBD means playing an active role in shaping the future of Detroit’s parks. By participating, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with others who care about their community, develop leadership and project management skills, and contribute to creating safe, vibrant, and welcoming public spaces. Volunteering with OBD isn’t just about cleaning up a park—it’s about building a lasting impact, strengthening local networks, and learning how to turn ideas into action. No matter your background or experience, your voice and effort can help transform Detroit’s green spaces for generations to come.
Together
We are building a network of local Champions to activate and steward our parks and recreation areas to promote a healthier and cleaner city.
Partnership
Green Living Science is partnering with the Gilbert Family Foundation to lift up Detroit residents with the resources and opportunities to help public spaces get the attention and care they deserve.
The goal:
To increase access to healthy green spaces in the City of Detroit!
What is Our Backyard Detroit?
Parks
We’ve identified 14 parks across Detroit’s seven Neighborhood Districts where community Champions can help bridge the gap between City departments and the needs of public community spaces, organizing programs like:
Park Clean Up
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Anti-Litter Initiatives
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Recycling Education
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Community Events
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...And More
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Tiffany Morrow
District 1 - Balduck Park
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Sam Scipio
District 1 - Peterson Playfield
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Shannon Durant
District 1 - Stoepel Park

Jennifer Spivey
Distrcit 2 - Sawyer Playfield
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Antonio Johnson
District 3 - Krainz Park
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Sandra Turner-Hardy
District 4 - Skinner Park
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Will Morgan
District 5 - McDuffy Park

Yesenia Nunez
District 6 - Dingeman Park
Year 2
Meet The Champions
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Tiffany Morrow
Balduck Park
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Sam Scipio
Peterson Playfield

Jennifer Spivey
Sawyer Playfield
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Antonio Johnson
Krainz Park
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Sandra Turner-Hardy
Skinner Park

Yesenia Nunez
St Hedwig Park

John Meyers
Maheras-Gentry Park

Kaytea Moreno-Elst
Pingree Park

Chantia Thompson
Van Antwerp Park

Lezlie Robinson
Zussman Park

Lisa Rodriguez
Patton Park
Meet The Champions

Anthony Spivey
Sawyer Park

Kenneth Hariston
Skinner Park

Kenyanna Collins
Balduck Park

Natalia McIntyre
St Hedwig Park

Michelle Baylor
Maheras-Gentry Park

Toya Oglesby
Pingree Park

Ebony Elmore
Van Antwerp Park

Joyce Massey
Zussman Park

Walter Bailey
Krainz Park
Assistant Park Champions
Meet The Champions
Our Impact & Story

Our Story
Our Backyard Detroit (OBD) is a community-centered project designed to empower residents to take ownership of Detroit’s public green spaces. Inspired by our youth nature activity book, Bee Green In Your Backyard, the program’s name reflects the vision of parks and green spaces as extensions of residents’ homes—a “backyard” for all to enjoy.
In a city shaped by its industrial heritage, many Detroiters live in apartments or condos with limited access to private green spaces. OBD reinforces the idea that stewarded parks can serve as vibrant, welcoming backyards for everyone, fostering a sense of pride and connection to nature.
We also address the concept of NIMBY ("Not In My Backyard"), challenging it with a proactive, community-driven approach. Through anti-littering campaigns, public space programming, and hands-on stewardship initiatives, we encourage residents to define and support positive behaviors that align with their vision for local parks and communal green spaces.
In addition to community engagement, OBD provides professional development opportunities to equip park stewards with the skills and knowledge to lead impactful projects. Champions participate in:
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Professional Development Day, a full-day experience featuring expert-led sessions, networking opportunities, and workshops to strengthen leadership and project management skills.
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Field Trips, exposing champions to different pedagogy styles in the field and offering firsthand experience with successful green space initiatives.
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Skill-Building Workshops, covering topics such as event planning, fundraising, social media marketing, and community engagement.
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Assisted Training Manuals, providing structured guidance to support champions in planning and executing park improvement projects.
Our Mission
Together, we’re creating a movement that transforms parks into thriving hubs of environmental stewardship, recreation, and community leadership—empowering Detroiters to shape and sustain the green spaces they call home.