This inventory serves as a foundational dataset for crafting the Action Plan. Gaining clarity on the existing parks, recreational amenities, and programs accessible to the City’s residents will facilitate informed decision-making for the future. The inventory encompasses the subsequent components for each park:
- Location
- Park area
- Amenities available
- Accessibility
- General condition
The City of Pleasant Ridge owns and maintains nine parks and recreational facilities, including one community center with a park on site. The inventory of these parks and facilities is displayed on the Parks and Recreation Facilities Map.
The Pleasant Ridge Recreation Department offers an extensive array of recreational programs catering to all age groups throughout the year.
Pleasant Ridge Programs
During the summer, the department provides activities such as T-ball, youth baseball, tot lot programs, swimming, and tennis. Children ages 6–14 can also participate in a camp-style program at the community center, where they enjoy a mix of structured and unstructured activities, including field trips, all under the guidance of counselors.
The Pleasant Ridge Community Pool is open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day and is available to residents with a membership card. The pool features a zero-depth entry, two lap lanes, diving boards, locker rooms, a concession area, and a grassy picnic spot. It hosts various activities like lap swimming, swimming lessons, open swim, and special events. Additionally, the Pleasant Ridge Swim Team, the Piranhas, competes in the Northwest Suburban Swim League, with practices held at the pool.
In the spring and fall, the recreation department offers youth soccer and baseball. The Community Center also hosts numerous fitness and wellness classes, including aerobics, Pilates, karate, yoga, foam rolling, and art enrichment. The Wellness Center, available to residents from 5:00 a.m. to midnight every day via key fob access, is equipped with treadmills, stationary bikes, free weights, weight machines, and free Wi-Fi.
Throughout the year, a variety of seasonal events bring the community together. These include a Halloween hayride, an art fair, an appraisal fair, events for the 50+ club, an ice cream social in the summer, children’s Halloween and Christmas parties, an Easter pancake brunch and egg hunt, the Woodward Dream Cruise, a father/daughter dance, and the annual Christmas tree lighting.
Relationships
The City collaborates with and provides meeting spaces and facilities for several local organizations, including:
- The Pleasant Ridge Club
- The Pleasant Ridge Foundation
- The Pleasant Ridge Garden Club
- The Pleasant Ridge Women’s Club
- The Pleasant Ridge Historical Commission
- The Pleasant Ridge 50 Plus Club
Beyond its coordination with the City’s planning and budgetary commissions, the Recreation Department fosters important partnerships with groups like the Ferndale School District and neighboring municipalities, including Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Berkley, and Hazel Park. The department also works with local organizations such as Berkley Youth Soccer, Ferndale Youth Assistance, the Michigan Recreation and Park Association, and the Northwest Recreation and Park Association.
