Latest News
See the list of FoDW activities for a running summary of accomplishments, events, and other activities.
August 8, 2006
See update with info on upcoming workdays, as well as the feature article on DW in the latest NAP Newsletter.
October 12, 2005
Major update with info on recent and upcoming events.
June 1, 2005
Read the info on FoDW's June 4th Cleanup Day and June 24/25 fund raiser garage sale.
March 23, 2005
Read the general update on recent FoDW activities.
March 10, 2005
FoDW and Dicken Elementary School co-hosted a wonderful Mid-Winter Candlelight Walk through Dicken Woods on the evening of Thursday, February 17, 2005. Organized by Stephanie Hunter from FoDW and Dicken Art Teacher Theresa Erickson, Dicken students made and decorated over 125 luminaries out of glass jars and metal canisters. The luminaries were placed along the trails, and the woods were beautiful with a fresh snowfall. Over 200 people walked the trails beginning at 7pm, then returned to Dicken School for hot chocolate and treats. It was a wonderful event, enjoyed by all. Special thanks to Stephanie, Theresa, and the Dicken students!
January 7, 2005
The FoDW Activities Planning Survey, conducted in November and December 2004, is now complete and the results are available for review on-line.
October 19, 2004
The first set of grants to Dicken Elementary classes have been announced. See the October meeting minutes for more information.
September 24, 2004
FoDW distributed the first annual Request for Proposals to all Dicken Elementary School teachers on Sept. 17. FoDW has established a Grants Committee to oversee the grants program. Final award decisions should be made the week of Oct. 11.
Plans are underway for a Trails Dedication Ceremony, to be held at DW on Sunday, October 17, at 2pm. Read more.
July 20, 2004: BREAKING NEWS!
City Council votes unanimously to preserve Dicken Woods in its entirety as city parkland, thereby removing the threat of future development!
June 24, 2004:
The DW Trail Map is now available on-line.
June 24, 2004:
DW volunteers spread the first load of wood chips on the trails. More work remains to be done, but the first large load of chips were placed within 2 days of delivery from the city.
June 5, 2004:
FoDW members planted 16 new trees by the trailhead at the end of Dicken Drive and further in DW to help close off the old areas that had been cleared by Atwell-Hicks in their work for Crosswinds Communities. The trees were provided free by the City Forester's office, and FoDW provided the in-kind labor to plant and care for the trees.
May 9, 2004:
The 2nd annual Dicken Woods spring cleanup day was a huge success! Approximately 50 volunteers helped remove trash, clear invasive species, and cut the new trails system. The piles of trash hauled out of DW were very large! See pictures of the day.
April 23, 2004:
The 2nd annual Dicken Woods spring cleanup day is scheduled for Saturday May 8, from 10:00am till 1:00pm. See more info in the message that was distributed to the DW email list on April 17.
February 12, 2004:
As of Tuesday February 10th, 2004, Dicken Woods is the newest Ann Arbor parkland (actually, nature area)! The city closed on the purchase of Dicken Woods on 2/10/04.
February 6, 2004:
The city is scheduled to close on the purchase of Dicken Woods on February 13, 2004. At the Feb. 4 General Meeting, the Friends voted to approve a motion stating that they will donate $50,000 to the city park acquisition fund upon a good faith authoritative commitment from the city to permanently protect as open space the entire 10.14 acres of DW. See the meeting minutes from the Feb. 4 and Dec. 8 meetings for the latest updates.
December 18, 2003:
Latest update message sent to FoDW mailing list.
December 9, 2003:
Web site updated. As of 12/9/03, the original ("Saving Dicken Woods") web site was archived, for future reference. The active Friends of Dicken Woods web site was updated on this date to reflect the Friends' new focus on stewardship activities in place of the initial work to save the woods.
December 9, 2003:
The Friends met on November 3, 2003. The meeting minutes are now available. The Friends are scheduled to meet again in early February 2004. More details to come.
November 29, 2003:
The Friends and Dicken Elementary School co-hosted a tree planting ceremony and park dedication. Over 85 people attended the event, including the Director of Properties for the Catholic Diocese of Lansing, in addition to representatives from Ann Arbor City Council, City Park Advisory Commission and City Planning Commission. See the event photos
.
November 3, 2003:
The Friends met on October 6, 2003. The meeting minutes are now available. The Friends are scheduled to meet again on Monday November 3, 2003, from 7:00-8:30 at Dicken Elementary.
October 29, 2003:
The Friends met on September 8, 2003. The meeting minutes are now available. The Friends are scheduled to meet again on Monday November 3, 2003, from 7:00-8:30 at Dicken Elementary.
October 24, 2003:
Opponents of Proposal B (the Parks and Greenbelt Millage) are making inaccurate and inflammatory arguments about Dicken Woods, to scare voters into rejecting Proposal B. Read more.
October 8, 2003
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT!
The Ann Arbor City Council voted to purchase Dicken Woods on Tuesday October 8, 2003! The resolution required 8 votes (out of 11), and got 9. Mayor Hieftje, and Councilmembers Teall, Woods, Johnson, Higgins, Herrell, Carlberg, Easthope and Lowenstein all voted for the purchase. Mayor Hieftje, as well as Margie Teall, Wendy Woods, Robert Johnson, and Marcia Higgins all spoke strongly in support of the purchase and of the efforts of the Friends of Dicken Woods. Councilmembers Woods and Johnson reaffirmed that the Park Advisory Commission had not succumbed to any pressure, but rather had a made a well-reasoned decision after a thorough analysis and was very much in support of the preservation of Dicken Woods.
September 10, 2003
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT! The City of Ann Arbor and the Catholic Diocese of Lansing have signed a purchase agreement for Dicken Woods to become part of the Ann Arbor Parks system! Read more.
August 25, 2003:
The Friends met on August 4, 2003. The meeting minutes are now available. The Friends are scheduled to meet again on Monday September 8, 2003, from 7:00-8:30 at Dicken Elementary.
July 17, 2003
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT! The Park Advisory Commission voted on July 15, 2003 to begin negotiations with the Diocese for the purchase of Dicken Woods! We need your support NOW. Read more.
July 16, 2003:
The Friends met on July 14, 2003. The meeting minutes are now available.
July 1, 2003:
The Friends second press release was sent out, regarding the benefit concert at the Ark on August 21. See more info on the concert.
July 1, 2003:
Notice: Please plan to attend the July 15th meeting of the Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission, 4:00-6:00pm at City Hall, Council Chambers (2nd floor), 100 N. Fifth Ave. After this open meeting, PAC will review (in closed door session) the appraisal of Dicken Woods.
June 27, 2003:
The Friends submitted a "Plan of Action to Preserve Dicken Woods" to the Catholic Diocese of Lansing, including letters of support from environmental organizations, the Ann Arbor Public Schools, and state Representative Chris Kolb, and a timeline for consideration by the City of Ann Arbor.
June 12, 2003:
The Friends submitted a request to the Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission (PAC) to consider carefully how the preservation of Dicken Woods fits well with the Ann Arbor Master Plan, the Allen Creek Management Plan, the Malletts Creek Restoration Plan, and the Park Advisory Commission's own Park, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan. Following their June 17 meeting, the PAC has decided to order an appraisal of Dicken Woods!
June 6, 2003:
The Friends met on June 4, 2003. The meeting minutes are now available.
May 29, 2003:
Dicken Woods Clean-up Day scheduled for Saturday, May 31, 9:00-11:00. Meet at 9am at the Dicken School parking lot. The Ann Arbor News will be there to cover the event!
Also, the Steering Committee has met twice in the last two weeks. See the minutes for the meetings on May 22 and May 29. Meanwhile, the next full meeting of the Friends is scheduled for Weds. June 4, 7:00-9:00pm at the Dicken Elementary Media Center.
May 16, 2003:
Major Development! As of May 16, Crosswinds has backed out of their purchase agreement! The Friends have met with the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and they have encouraged us to put together a viable plan for the purchase of Dicken Woods. We are now working on that plan and will be meeting with various city and other non-profit organizations. Stay tuned for more!
The Friends of Dicken Woods next meeting is scheduled for Weds. June 4, from 7:00-9:00pm at the Dicken Elementary Media Center. All are welcome! Please join, even if you can only stay for part of the meeting. There are no further obligations (though any help is welcome!), just come along, meet your neighbors and other concerned citizens, and stay informed!
May 7, 2003:
The Friends of Dicken Woods met most recently on Monday May 5, 2003. The meeting minutes are now available.
Neighborhood Garage Sale:
Being coordinated by Naela Jenkins and Stephanie Hunter, tentatively scheduled for June 27/28. More information.
April 14, 2003:
The Friends met on Monday, 4/14/03 from 7:00-8:30 pm at the Dicken Elementary Media Center. The meeting minutes are now available.
March 17, 2003:
The Friends met on Monday, 3/17/03 from 7:00-8:30 pm at the Dicken Elementary Media Center. See the meeting minutes for an update on progress and next steps.
February 19, 2003:
The Friends met at Dicken Elementary, 7pm. A general update was provided to all and next steps were identified and outlined. The meeting minutes are available.
February 4, 2003:
The Ann Arbor Planning Commission votes 5-4 to table, for a second time, Crosswinds' petition to annex and rezone Dicken Woods. Once again, scores of neighbors packed the meeting room, and made impressive arguments against Crosswind's proposal. The meeting minutes are now available.
November 19, 2002:
The Ann Arbor Planning Commission votes to table Crosswinds first petition to annex and rezone Dicken Woods. Scores of neighbors showed up at the Planning Commission meeting and made passionate and intelligent arguments against the rezoning petition. Detailed information about the presentations and the Commissioners discussions are available in the meeting minutes (a PDF file).
You need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view the minutes file.
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