As the holiday season arrives, we want to recognize the amazing work of our City of Ferndale team. Their dedication and effort have made a real impact throughout the year, and we are truly grateful.

Public Works

Let’s begin with the team that keeps everything running, Public Works (DPW). This year, they accomplished a lot:

• Highway Pavement: The team installed 35.7 yards of concrete, used 30 tons of asphalt, and paved 6.19 miles of road.
• Parks Maintenance: They maintained 2,285 acres and cleared 18,290 feet of brush.
• Water and Sewer: They delivered 466,290,000 gallons of water, replaced 22 fire hydrants, lined 1.11 miles of sewer, and replaced 3,500 feet of water mains.
• Street Sweeping and Leaf Pickup: The team swept 1,685 lane miles and collected 10,350 yards of leaves.
• Trees and Flowers: They removed 60 hazardous trees, planted 96 new ones, installed 215 hanging baskets, and added 586 flowers.
• Downtown Maintenance and Sign Shop: The team power-washed 42,416 square feet of sidewalks, emptied 10,608 trash cans, and replaced 244 street name signs.

Looking ahead to 2026, here are some goals and ways the community can get involved:

• Increase community participation in the lead service line self-reporting tool.
• Gather a full list of residents interested in the tree program.
• Support a greener community by promoting recycling and composting.

Find out how you can help at ferndalemi.gov/public-works.

Great job as always, DPW! Our city is better thanks to your hard work. 

Parks and Recreation

Let's give a huge round of applause to the amazing Ferndale Parks and Recreation Department for their achievements this year!

• They pulled off the 15th annual Ferndale Fall Festival, welcoming more than 650 people for a day packed with fun.
• They wrapped up the Wilson Park upgrades and took home the mParks Design award for their efforts.
• The Ferndale Senior Group saw a 14% boost in participation, and the Mackinac Island Trip drew 40% more adventurers than before.
• Robert Burch and Emanuel Johnson passed the National Recreation and Parks Associate exam and earned the Certified Park and Recreation Professional designation.
• Alicia Pardo stepped into her well-deserved role as full-time SMART and Senior Coordinator.
• Martin Road Park got a major facelift, complete with a brand new pickleball court for everyone to enjoy.
• They kept the community buzzing with a mix of fresh and favorite sports, events, and programs.
• They landed a $100,000 grant for the Harding Park rink.
• They juggled more than 210 park and pavilion rentals.

Next year promises even more fantastic events, sports, and programs. If you want to get in on the action, they’re always eager for new volunteers.

Every goal they set, they crush. Whenever they question if something’s possible, they make it happen. (Trust us, their event spreadsheets are legendary.) On behalf of City staff, thank you Parks and Rec team!