Ann Arbor Times

Celebrating a city's 200th anniversary is not an everyday event. Thanks to the community and the Ann Arbor Bicentennial Committee, dozens of fun, unifying and meaningful activities are planned throughout 2024. Here's what's happening in February.

Sunday, Feb. 4, 2–3:30 p.m., Screening Room, Michigan Theatre (603 E. Liberty St.)

Premiere of There Goes the Neighborhood: The Closing of the Jones SchoolJoin the Ann Arbor District Library and 7 Cylinders Studio (7CS) for the premiere of a documentary film about the closing of Ann Arbor's Jones School. In 1965, the Board of Education closed the majority-Black school. Ann Arbor joined a nationwide trend of school desegregation during the Civil Rights Era. But for these young students, the loss of a neighborhood school foreshadowed changes to their close-knit community. Gentrification came to Ann Arbor on the heels of desegregation.

Monday, Feb. 19, Liberty Plaza (310 S. Division St.)Presidents Day LettersWrite a letter to the president (or contenders to be the next president)! As Ann Arbor enters its third century, what wisdom can we offer in presidential affairs? The letters written and video record of expressions will be gathered and in some intelligent way and sent to the president from our town. Learn more at https://www.a2bicentennial.org/events.

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Kellogg Eye Center (2401 Plymouth Road, Suite C)

Blast Off to Ann Arbor's Bicentennial PresentationRefreshments/networking, 6-7:30 program, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute events are for adults age 50 plus, $2 fee to attend. Lots of excitement is planned for Ann Arbor's bicentennial year 2024. Here's a special chance to learn about the many activities, events and the legacy projects planned throughout the year, from members of the Bicentennial Coordinating Committee.

You can find additional event and bicentennial information at www.a2bicentennial.org. Would you like to collaborate with A2 Bicentennial on your event or have an event to add to the calendar? Please email info@a2bicentennial.org.

Partnerships

A2SmartToursAvailable via the Ann Arbor District Library's website, https://aadl.org/a2st, SmartTours celebrates the bicentennial by offering 15 self-guided, online-themed tours. Each of the 177 tour sites includes a photograph and a narrative describing its significance to Ann Arbor and can be accessed via a smartphone.

Tours are noted as most appropriate for walking, biking and/or driving. Many of the sites on the tours are private property and may be appreciated only from a public street. Please be respectful of the privacy of building owners and do not trespass.

Mighty Oak Tree DonationsIn partnership with the City of Ann Arbor, the Association Football Club Ann Arbor, which is known as the Mighty Oak, will donate and plant 200 trees this season, including oak trees in Bicentennial Park to commemorate Tree Town's anniversary. The club is also planning season-long initiatives and ways for fans and supporters to get involved and participate in tree giveaways. More details will be provided before and during the 2024 season, which runs May–July. Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014 and competes in USL League 2 (men's) and USL W League (women's) national pre-professional leagues. Visit www.afcannarbor.com for more information.

Legacy Projects

Fundraising opportunities are available to support the following projects:

The James L. Crawford Elks Lodge.

The Kathy Kozachenko statue at Larcom City Hall.

New amenities at Bicentennial Park (formerly known as Southeast Area Park).

Original source can be found here.