Foundation awards Detroit Pistons Foundation $100K grant to fund produce stands at select Neighbors Program parks
(DETROIT, Mich. — June 30, 2025) Hundreds of Detroit-area families will have access to fresh, weekly produce this summer at no cost through a grant awarded by the Priority Health Total Health Foundation to the Detroit Pistons Foundation. The funds will support the Pistons Neighbors Program operated in partnership with the Detroit Parks Coalition.
The produce stands are part of a larger effort by the Pistons Neighbors Program and several community partners to encourage Detroit resident to take advantage of their public parks by offering sports clinics, live music, dance classes and visual arts to select parks.
Fresh produce for free distribution will be delivered to 11 Detroit-area parks each week by Eastern Market through August 15. Deliveries began June 16. The grant will also support a fall pilot program where fresh produce will be available from Labor Day to Halloween at four regional Detroit parks.
“We know fresh produce is essential for maintaining good health, providing vital nutrients, lowering risk of chronic illnesses and boosting the immune system,” said Shannon Wilson, executive director of the Priority Health Total Health Foundation. “We are pleased to support the Neighbors Program and its mission to promote healthy eating and support overall community well-being.”
Sigal Hemy Spiegel, Executive Director of the Detroit Parks Coalition said: “Parks are the heart of our neighborhoods, and getting outside for physical activity and healthy eating is key to quality of life for all Detroiters. The produce stands have been extremely well utilized in recent years, and we are excited for this new partnership that will expand the program and increase access to fresh and local produce in our parks.”
Megan Churches, Executive Director of the Detroit Pistons Foundation said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Priority Total Health Foundation and Detroit Parks Coalition to extend fresh produce offerings to 11 parks this summer, more than doubling the number of participating parks in previous years. Thanks to the generosity of the Priority Health Total Health Foundation, the expansion of the fresh produce stand will reach more people, providing easy access to free, healthy food options.”
Parks distributing fresh produce from now until mid-August include:
- Boyer Park, Tuesdays at 1 p.m.
- Chandler Park, Thursdays at 1 p.m.
- Ella Fitzgerald Park, Mondays at 11:30 a.m.
- Farwell Park, Mondays at 2 p.m.
- James T. Hope Playfield, Wednesdays at 3 p.m.
- Kelley Park, Thursdays at 10 a.m.
- O’Hair Park, Tuesdays at 4 p.m.
- Pallister Park, Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.
- Rouge Park, Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.
- Van Antwerp Park, Thursdays at 4 p.m.
- Yates Park, Saturdays at 9 a.m.
The Pistons Neighbors Program will provide events at Selden Courtyard, Charleston Colston Park, Clark Park, Cool Cities Park and John Watson Park. A complete schedule is available online.
The Detroit Pistons Foundation partnered with the City of Detroit, William Davidson Foundation, and Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation in the summer of 2019 to create the Neighbors Program to encourage Detroiters to enjoy their public parks and outdoor spaces by providing healthy, safe, free outdoor activities for the whole family. The Neighbors Program is an extension of the Pistons' “Basketball for All” initiative through which the Pistons renovated 60 basketball courts around Detroit and have donated 70,000 basketballs to Detroit's youth. In 2024, more than 2,000 people participated in various Neighbors Program activities throughout the summer.
Since 2020, the Priority Health Total Health Foundation has remained committed to the most underserved residents of Southeast Michigan by awarding nearly $18 million in grants to nonprofits working to address factors outside of healthcare and doctor’s visits that impact overall health and well-being. This includes housing, food insufficiency, education, literacy and maternal/infant health.