Happy New Year from the City of Ypsilanti!On behalf of all staff at the City of Ypsilanti, we would like to extend a Happy New Year to all of our residents! We look forward to continuing to serve you through 2026. Thank you for staying engaged and informed on what is taking place across the city, and we look forward to sharing exciting updates throughout the year.
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The Ypsilanti Senior Center Re-opening to the Public!After months of repairs and renovation following a water main break, the Ypsilanti Senior Center is reopening to the public on January 12th! YSC will begin by bringing the WCC Senior Focus classes back to the center the week of January 12th, with the return of more programming to follow. Some upcoming events and activities include: - Bingo! returning to the center on January 21st at 12:30 pm for $0.25 per card or $1 for Cover-all
- Community Potluck on Thursday, January 22nd at 11:45 am
- Crafting Classes begin on January 20th and will be held on Friday afternoons from 2 pm to 4 pm
- Euchre returning on Monday, January 26th, meeting Mondays from 12:45 pm to 2:30 pm.
- Gentle Fitness returning on Tuesday, January 20th, held on Mondays and Fridays from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
YSC is looking for skilled volunteers who are interested in facilitating group classes. If you have a skill that you would like to teach to others, please contact Interim Executive Director Jasmine Figgins at jasmine@ypsiseniorcenter.org or by calling 734-483-5014. Members can also save the date for a Reopening Party on Friday, February 27th from 11 am to 2 pm! You can visit www.ypsiseniorcenter.org to view their January 2026 newsletter and get the most up to date info about events and programming. |
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Renovations Continue at YSCCrews from Department of Public Works have been working to renovate and repair the Senior Center since March 2025. While the facility will be reopening to the public starting on January 12th, there are still renovations that will be ongoing, including new flooring! Here are some more images showing where we are now, and we are excited to share more updates in the coming months! |
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Rx Kids Seeing Early SuccessLaunched on December 1st, Rx Kids is already supporting more than 50 families in the City of Ypsilanti. Pregnant residents within the city limits can receive $1,500 during their pregnancy and $500 per month during their baby’s first six months of life. The money has no strings attached and serves to support families during pregnancy and childbirth – some of the most financially straining periods for families. Coming from both public and private funds, $75,500 has been prescribed to Ypsi families since December 1st, and the village has certainly showed up for the 12 babies who have already been born from enrolled families. More information and the online application can be found at www.Rxkids.org/Ypsilanti. You can also click here to view the city’s Rx Kids information page.
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Next Steps for the Water Street Redevelopment AreaThe City of Ypsilanti is pleased to announce that soil remediation efforts have successfully been completed for the Water Street Remediation Area, and we are moving forward towards bring new life to Water Street. Having started in September 2025, workers removed the worst of the contaminated soil from the site and filled the area with clean and tested soil. The next step, however, needs you! The City of Ypsilanti will be forming an ad-hoc citizens committee who will review the site’s Request for Qualifications through August 2026. After receiving approval from City Council. The ad-hoc committee will then begin working with potential developers to create a community benefits agreement and continue the site’s remediation and development. Residents are invited to a community meeting on January 28th where these next stages will be discussed in greater detail, along with information about forming the ad hoc committee. When: January 28th, 2026, at 7 p.m. Where: City Hall Council Chambers, 1 South Huron, Ypsilanti, MI More information can be found online at www.cityofypsilanti.com/waterstreet. Those looking to attend the meeting virtually can do so at this access link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82726131111?pwd=nrpdpfakdNcSyObZ1rDmNjUeFZXiGZ.1. When prompted, enter Meeting ID: 827 2613 1111, Passcode: 134943 Those with disabilities who need accommodations should contact the City Clerk, Tracey Boudreau at tboudreau@cityofypsilanti.com by 5:00 p.m. on January 27th to request assistance. |
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SHINE Team Making the City ShineThe Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority is collaborating with a local non-profit, Life After Incarceration: Transition & Reentry, to pilot a program supplementing snow removal in Ypsi’s Downtown commercial area! After heavy snowfall, you will see members of LAITR’s SHINE Team removing snow from our downtown sidewalks, keeping them safe and accessible. This program enables formerly incarcerated individuals to access employment, while building skills and meaningful partnerships. Building connections across the city, members of SHINE will be utilizing facilities at the City of Ypsilanti Fire Department for storing equipment, including two new snowblowers donated by Puffer Reds! Keep an eye out for their purple vests and always feel free to give them a friendly honk, wave, or take a moment to say 'thank you!' Visit www.lifeafterincarceration.com to learn more about the work they do in our community, and how you can get involved.
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Winter Safety Tips from the Ypsilanti Fire DepartmentThe City of Ypsilanti Fire Department is sharing some helpful tips for keeping yourself and your family safe during the winter months. Departments often see an increase in calls during winter, oftentimes for fires caused by alternative heating methods, along with increased risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. It is an important reminder that fire safety starts at home. Tip #1 – Make sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. According to research by the National Fire Protection Association, the risk of dying in a house fire is cut by 60% when a working smoke alarm is present in your home. While a 2024 survey by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission showed 99% of U.S. households have at least one smoke alarm, only 55% of households reported having at least one carbon monoxide alarm – which is crucial for detecting the colorless, and odorless toxic gas. YFD provides free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for residents. You can call 734-482-9778 to get more information and schedule a free installation. Tip #2 – Make sure all gas burning appliances are in working order. YFD encourages everyone to have their fireplaces, furnaces, stoves, and any other gas burning appliance regularly inspected to make sure there are no leaks. It is also advised to never use stoves, ovens or grills as sources of heat indoors due to the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use generators in an enclosed space, and make sure they run outdoors, in a well-ventilated location away from windows, doors and vent opening. Tip #3 – Use space heaters responsibly. Make sure space heaters are plugged directly into wall outlets with at least three feet of open space around them. Never plug space heaters into power strips, which can cause electrical fires. A good safety measure is to also use space heaters that have a UL safety rating. Tip #4 – Keep flammable objects away from stoves. Trying out that recipe you saw on Facebook? Well, make sure you keep flammable materials like towels, napkins, and wooden utensils away from your stove. Remember: Never use water on a grease fire, which can cause the fire to spread explosively. Instead, smother small grease fires with a lid over the pan and turn off the stove. If a fire starts in the oven, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If a fire of any kind starts, get everyone out of the building safely, and call 911. You can call YFD at 734-482-9778 to schedule a free home safety inspection or visit www.cityofypsilanti.com/fire for more safety tips!
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Celebrate Arbor Day with our 2026 Seedling GiveawayThe online form to request free tree seedlings is now available on the city website! In celebration of Arbor Day, the City of Ypsilanti partners with the Washtenaw County Conservation District to give away 200 trees to city residents. You can click here to access the request form & read more about responsible tree planting! Residents who submit a request form will be able to choose from 2-4 species of trees, including both deciduous and evergreen, which will be available for pickup in late April. Residents will also receive instructions for how to plant and care for their tree.
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Public Auction on January 20thThe City of Ypsilanti will be holding a public auction on Tuesday, January 20th to sell surplus equipment. The auction will be held online via www.Biddergy.com. Interested bidders will need to register on the website and may schedule an appointment to view the surplus equipment by contacting 866-260-1611. Items that are for sale include: - A 2015 Ford Taurus
- A 2012 Street Sweeper
- Set of large, wooden roof trusses
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A Morning with Plow Driver Ken DancyEach snowstorm is different, meaning overnight, early in the morning, or during the day, are all times Ken and the other city plow drivers can hit the road. On a morning ride along with the city’s communications team, Ken showed off the specs of his truck, highlighting the different buttons and levers that control the various tools at his disposal. Being an underbelly plow, the city’s trucks include blades on both sides to clear snow, while also carrying up to eight tons of salt that are distributed among Ypsi’s roads. A lifelong Ypsi resident, Ken says the time spent on the road is one of his favorite parts of the job, but so is the result. “Not only we have to drive on this street when we leave work, everyone else does too,” said Ken. “Even when I get off work, I’ll drive past through here and I’ll be like ‘I did that!’” Ken explained that the city is split into different areas assigned to each of the drivers. Assigned to Area 5, he said the roads are cleared in priority order starting with the state trunklines, which for Area 5 are Hamilton and Huron. Crews then move on to the major roads, such as Harriet, First, and Hawkins, along with hills before then clearing the local roads. “It’s good to see your work.” The best way for residents to give them a hand is to be proactive, and get trash bins, yard waste, and vehicles off the road whenever snow is in the forecast, making sure crews can clear the roads to the best of their ability. Of course, a friendly wave helps their morning get off to a strong start too. Visit www.cityofypsilanti.com/snowremoval to read more about snow removal is managed in the City of Ypsilanti and helpful tips!
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Celebrating the Best of YpsilantiWe are thrilled to see so many businesses, venues, and individuals across the City of Ypsilanti recognized by Current Magazine’s Best of Washtenaw 2025! Click here to see their full list of awards which includes many Ypsilanti winners, runners-up (and sometimes both) for various categories, ranging from food, services, shopping, arts and entertainment, health, and more! Just a few of Ypsi’s winners include: - Maiz – Best Mexican food
- Basil Babe – Best Asian Fusion
- Ypsilanti Food Co-Op – Best Local Grocery & Best Natural Food Store
- Fine and Shine – Best New Business
- Fischer Honda – Best Auto Dealer
- Ypsilanti as Best Suburban Downtown!
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City Offices Closed for Martin Luther King Jr DayCity Hall and all other city administrative offices will be closed on Monday, January 19th in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day. City offices will re-open for regular business hours on Tuesday, January 20th. "If America is to be a great nation, this must become true. And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that, let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring." - From "I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King Jr
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