The PARK Program Rangers

The PARK Program Rangers is a program that motivates and rewards youth that help maintain renovated parks in their community. Participants work to preserve the 33 Detroit parks, renovated through the PARK program, a $12 million collaborative project which includes The Pistons-Palace Foundation, the City of Detroit and several area foundations and businesses. The goal of the program is to provide kids with safe, clean and fun places to play.

Rangers, who are between the ages of five and 18, are gathered from schools, churches and recreation centers. They ensure that parks are kept clean and safe for other children and their families by cleaning parks twice monthly from May through November. During fall and winter months, they rake leaves and shovel snow for senior citizens in their community. To date, there are 33 Ranger groups (one for each park) with a combined total of more than 700 participants. Each group has at least two adult supervisors who oversee clean-ups, meetings and projects.

Rangers meet monthly to address community issues, plan activities and do homework. Each group must also plan community service projects. One Ranger group hosted a poetry contest for Black History Month, during which they pledged to continue working together to improve their communities and the lives of others. Another Ranger group conducted a 'fun day' to provide fun and safe activities for neighborhood children. Activities included flag football, relay races, volleyball, basketball and double-dutch jump roping. Other Ranger groups hold fundraisers, canned goods and clothing drives for needy families.

For their commitment to The PARK Program, Rangers are often rewarded with tickets to Detroit Pistons basketball games, PARK Program and Pistons merchandise and visits from Pistons players.

Domino's Pizza, Inc. is the sponsor of The PARK Program Rangers. As a committed sponsor, Domino's provides pizza for meetings, employment opportunities for the Rangers and trips to Domino's Farm. Additionally, Domino's employees volunteer their time to assist the Rangers with park clean-ups.