Southfield Parks & Recreation is excited to announce its Fall 2020 schedule featuring Fresh Air Fitness and Fun plus virtual programs for all ages. These programs and events have been developed with safety as the top priority to facilitate social distancing with smaller class sizes in larger outdoor settings. P&R has also added new virtual offerings in Esports featuring a League of Legends League and Call of Duty Warzone and Fortnite tournaments as well as virtual dance classes for kids taught by Impulse Dance Academy for the fall. All participants in Southfield Parks & Recreation programs and classes must wear a face mask and safely distance from others during the program.

We've taken traditionally indoor classes like our Popular Hustles and Hustles for Seniors dance classes as well as yoga, tai chi and other fitness classes and moved them into the parks. Participants will have room to freely move as they continue to safely distance from others as they enjoy the fresh air and peacefulness of our Southfield parks. When chairs are required in the class, they will be provided and cleaned after each use by staff.

Acknowledging the need for safe fitness opportunities for all levels, Parks & Recreation staff has created the Fitness Trail, a series of signs placed along the walking path on the front lawn of the Donald F. Fracassi Municipal Complex. This fun, free workout is posted every Monday and Wednesday (except Oct. 12) from 9 - 11 a.m., weather permitting. A separate Fitness Trail for Kids will be placed alongside the traditional Fitness Trail on Wednesday mornings to help kids hop, skip and jump their morning off to an active start.

Kids ages 5-13 can take a break from their virtual studies and enjoy a pizza lunch along with active outdoor challenges on the front lawn of the Donald F. Fracassi Municipal Complex (26000 Evergreen Road) at Lunch and Recess for just $1 per day. Lunch and Recess will take place from 12 - 1:30 p.m. on the following Fridays: Friday, Sept. 18, Sept. 25, Oct. 2 and Oct. 9. Children must be pre-registered and have an adult present throughout the event. Recreation on the Move will be back this fall at Inglenook Park on Tuesday evenings from 4 - 6 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. with activity bags containing a craft, coloring pages and more to do at home for the first 25 kids to visit.

Outdoor clinics in baseball (ages 7-12) and soccer (ages 7-14) along with tennis lessons for all ages will help kids get back into using and refining their skills in anticipation of the return of organized sports. Clinics and lessons will be held outdoors in our Inglenook, Bedford Woods and Civic Center parks respectively. The Beech Woods Driving Range and Evergreen Hills Golf Course will continue to offer clinics ranging from putting to bunker play as well as Beginner and Intermediate golf lessons to help you work on your game in small (3-6 people) settings.

If you are looking for a creative outlet for the family to try, check out our new Chalk the Lot art event on Sunday, September 13 (Grandparents Day) where we provide the chalk and you provide the art. Participants will be given a parking spot in the Parks & Recreation Building parking lot to decorate. Prizes will be awarded to the top three decorated spaces. Be sure to register early to be a part of this new family event. Cost is $10 per Southfield family, and this all-outdoor event will take place from 1 - 3 p.m.

Families (and individuals) can merge creativity along with fitness with our Photo Walks group beginning September 14. Each week we will reveal a new theme for participants to take pictures of while exploring your neighborhood, parks and community. Using a collage making app, participants will display their photos in our private Facebook Group for the others to see. This is a great program for families to do together, and it is free! You just need to register for access to the Facebook Group.

Those ages 50 and over are invited to be a part of our Seniors in the Park series of events. These programs are specifically designed for those ages 50 and older and will be held outdoors in the Civic Center Park picnic shelter #1 (near the playground). Learn a new craft like decorating your own face mask, creating a beaded bracelet or making your own unique artist trading card with our staff in the park at one of the Craft in Park events. Picnics in the Park will take place on September 16 and October 14 and offer participants an opportunity to get out and enjoy a boxed lunch from Panera Bread and a game or two of Family Feud with the Senior Services staff and friends. Picnics in the Park are $15 per day for Southfield residents ($20/day for non-residents). Bingo in the Park will feature three games of Bingo (we will supply disposable cards and markers) in the picnic shelter. Join us from 10 - 11 a.m. on Sept. 8, Sept. 22, Oct. 13 or Oct. 27. Bingo in the Park is free, but we do require registration for each event so that we may keep program size limited for proper social distancing. Virtual Bingo will also be taking place on these days at the same time if you wish to join the game that way. Participants are asked to dress for the weather, wear a face mask and social distance while at these programs.

Speaking of Virtual Bingo, have you heard about our new virtual offerings? Southfield Parks & Recreation is excited to be teaming up with two new partners to offer virtual opportunities to the community.

We have partnered with STATE CHAMPS! Esports to offer a League of Legends League as well as a Call of Duty Warzone Tournament and Fortnite Tournament, all for ages 15 and up. Headquartered on the campus of Lawrence Tech University, STATE CHAMPS! Esports has organized leagues and tournaments for high schools throughout the Midwest for the past four years. All Esport offerings can be played on Xbox One, PS4 or PC and will be streamed through STATE CHAMPS! Esports.

The League of Legends League will be a 7-week, 14-game, best of one format season with a four team best of three playoff featuring teams of five players (no more than two players Diamond Rank or higher per team). Play will take place on Saturdays from 6 - 9 p.m. beginning Sept. 19 at a cost of $5 per person.

Esports tournaments will be double elimination, point-based games. The Call of Duty Warzone Tournament will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-27 from 5 - 10 p.m. The Fortnite Tournament will take place from 5 - 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4. Both tournaments are $5 per person to play.

Southfield Parks & Recreation is thrilled to welcome the Impulse Dance Academy to our Parks & Recreation Dance family. Instructor Rita McMorris will offer virtual classes for dancers as young as 3 or 4 (Taps & Tutus and Mini Hip Hop) up to age 15 (Ballet/Tap, Jazz/Hip Hop and JR/Teen Hip Hop). These classes are mostly beginner-level classes with some Intermediate concepts included. Participants will need a computer or smart device with a camera or microphone for these dance classes. Virtual dance class sessions are 6-weeks in length and cost $68 for residents ($83 per non-resident).

Registration can safely be done from your home online at https://apm.activecommunities.com/southfieldparks/Activity_Search  or by calling the Parks & Recreation Information Desk (Mon. – Fri. from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.). You can also register in person at the Parks & Recreation Information Window inside the Southfield Pavilion (26000 Evergreen Road), Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. -5 p.m.

Check out our Fall 2020 Fresh Air Fitness and Fun + Virtual Programs guide today at https://www.cityofsouthfield.com/departments/parks-recreation.