We sat down with Detroit Future City's land use and design team to discuss DFC's origins, how Detroit's vacant land relates to climate resilience and stormwater management, and how the city's master planning process seeks to balance new development with community voice.

We also explored what DFC learned from conservation groups in Cleveland, Baltimore, and Chicago while researching a Detroit-specific model. That research led to Saving for the Future, the report behind DFC's most ambitious project yet, the Detroit GreenSpace Conservancy. Hear about the two years of community engagement, funding, and hard conversations that got them here, and what success looks like five and ten years out.

Featuring:

Sarah Hayosh - Director of Land Use + Design, Detroit Future City

Patrick Crouch - Program Manager of Land Use + Design, Detroit Future City

Episode Links:

Detroit Future City

Saving for the Future

*Recorded at the 2025 Michigan Outdoor Summit.*

Nature shapes us, grounds us, and sparks the stories we carry. For Detroit-based artist-journalist and organizer Ian Solomon, the outdoors is more than a backdrop, it’s a driving force in his art, community work, and vision for belonging. In this closing keynote, Ian sits down with Dan Wanschura, host of Interlochen Public Radio’s Points North podcast, for a conversation about how nature inspires creativity, fuels resilience, and connects us to each other. They’ll explore the intersections of art, access, and the transformative power of being outside.

Featuring:

Ian Solomon – Artist + Communications & Engagement Manager, Detroit Parks Coalition

Dan Wanschura – Host + Executive Producer, Points North

*Recorded at the 2025 Michigan Outdoor Summit.*

The outdoors doesn’t live in a silo, and neither should we. From trails to tables, wellness to wilderness, many of us in the recreation, conservation, food, health, and outdoor sectors are already working toward shared goals. So why does it sometimes feel like we’re on parallel paths instead of walking together?

This candid conversation with thought leaders sit at the intersection of these overlapping worlds. We’ll unpack the hidden connections that already exist between our fields and explore what it really takes to activate a more visible, inclusive, and powerful outdoor movement — from the inside out. Expect big questions, honest talk, and a few laughs as we ask: Are we even friends…and if not, what’s stopping us?

Featuring:

Eoin Comerford – Principal, Outsize Consulting
Danielle Todd – Founder, Make Food Not Waste
Katie Cruickshank – VP Advertiser Solutions + Client Service, Outside
Rory Thibault – Land Protection Specialist, Land Conservancy of West Michigan

Haley Bennett — Principal, Fresh Coast Strategies