Yesterday’s 1st annual Fords, Friends, and Fun in the Park event at Highland Recreation Area was terrific! Vintage Ford Model A and Model T vehicles lined the Goose Meadow Parking lot and attracted visitors from all over the Detroit metro area to what was once Edsel Fords’ Haven Hill Estate.
Park Users’ Groups such as the Highland Trail Riders, the United Flying Organization, and even visitor groups such as the Pontiac Lake Horseman’s Association (PLHA), the Kensington Trail Riders, Michigan Barn Network, the Highland Equestrian Conservancy, and the White Lake Historical Society (to name a few) all put on great displays for the visiting public as well. Kyler’s Koral of wonderful petting farm animals was a big hit too.
Below: A smiling goat who’s about to get a snack in Kyler’s Corral from the PLHA.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources had the park and meadow in tip-top shape for everyone. The smell of grilled hot dogs, donated baked goods and the sounds of music, all traveled across the Meadow on a light breeze during the warm summer day. Ice cream and cold pop and water were enjoyed buy all.
Above: The Highland Trail Riders display at Fords, Friends, and Fun in the Park 2009.
Games for young and old kids included fishing casting, wiffle ball golf, butterfly collecting, and frisbee toss. Below, an Optimist’s volunteer shows fishing tackle to a family enjoying the day.
Members of “the Livingston A’s”, a regional Model A Restorer’s Club (MARC), brought their prized vehicles from all over the area. Horns tooting and vintage engines purring made everyone reminisce of a by-gone era, while overhead the wizz of model airplanes from the United Flying Organization filled the sky.
The Highland State Recreation Area provides visitors with a wealth of activities from quiet forest hikes, to horseback riding and model airplane flying. The Haven Hill section of the park, entrance located off of Highland Road (M-59), is the site of what was once Edsel Ford’s grand country estate. The estate was built in the 1920’s and 30’s, and preservation/repurposing plans for the historic structures are being pursued by the MDNR and the Friends of Highland Recreation Area (FOHRA).
Above: Pam Sienkiewicz, , Marge Sawruk, and Dick Russell, all members of FOHRA, pose amidst the vintage Ford cars.
The Fords, Friends, and Fun in the Park event was held primarily as a fund raiser for the Friends of Highland Recreation Area (FOHRA), the parks’ support organization. Thanks goes out to everyone who attended and supported yesterday’s event. Web links to groups’ websites include:
Pontiac Lake Horseman’s Association and Kyler’s Corral
Michigan Barn Preservation Network
The White Lake Historical Society
The Highland Equestrian Conservancy
The United Flying Organization
and FOHRA…
Have a great summer!
Friends of Highland Recreation Area 