Longtime supporters of the vision for a greenway in Ann Arbor are inviting the community to come learn more at a Sunday afternoon "picnic on the greenway."
The Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy is hosting the event from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the parking lot at First and William streets.
The proposed locations of the three greenway anchor parks.
Courtesy of Friends of the Ann Arbor Greenway
Organizers say community members are invited to bring their own snacks and seats and enjoy live music and activities for children.
The schedule is as follows:
1-2 p.m. — Dorkestra band plays, Kim Easter is the featured singer. Welcome speech by ACGC President Bob Galardi. Activities for children and for "adults who may feel like a child for a day" include imagining the greenway by drawing it with green chalk and making flowers.
2 p.m. — Short speeches. Poem "A Brook in the City" by Robert Frost, read by local poet Chris Lord (organizers believe the brook from the poem is Allen Creek). A second poem written and read by local poet Nancy Heers, titled "If I had My Choice," inspired by the greenway.
2:30 p.m. —Dance called "Greenway" by Dancers for Life (Nancy Heers, Shirley Axon, Quincy Northrup, and five more dancers), waving a long green cloth. Followed or preceded with song by Robert and Quincy Northrup: "This Land is my Land."
3 p.m. — Band plays some more. The so-called "Violin Monster" of Ann Arbor has been invited to join and play with the band.
4 p.m. — End of party, pick up trash and leave the place as found, except for chalk marks on the parking lot that will wash away with the next rain.
Watch a video on the vision for the greenway:
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.