Westacres Neighbors Gather for Annual Aquacade Competition, Fun

No painted line divides the Westacres subdivision's north side from its south side, but residents of the West Bloomfield Township neighborhood know it's there.

The rivalry between the two sides comes to a head once a year in Aquacade, a weekend event centered around the neighborhood's Middle Straits Lake that, depending on who you ask, is either a fierce competition or a community get-together. North-side residents show up to the the three-day celebration in green, while south siders wear red.

Lila Riley, a 54-year-old Westacres resident, said she has seen the competition get fierce. At last year's men's softball game, she said, one her neighbors tripped while running to catch a ball, breaking his wrist. A true competitor, the injured man finished the play before he went to the hospital, Riley said.

"In Westacres, when you say Aquacade, people say: Go green! or Go red!" she said.

Over the weekend, residents gather and compete in a series of events, including corn husking, baseball, sack races, a parade and water challenges. In addition, residents can score points by attending a dance Saturday.

Westacres celebrates 75th anniversary

This year's celebration is even more special, though, as Westacres marks its 75th anniversary. Jay Wright, a volunteer on the Westacres 75th Anniversary Committee, said he was surprised at the number of attendees in various events, such as the parade, which had close to 50 floats this year. Usually, the parade has around 20 floats, he said.

This year, many of the attendees came from near and far to celebrate the subdivision's historic anniversary, he said.

Lindsey Stakoe Neumann grew up Westacres, and now lives in Manhattan Beach, CA. The 31-year-old said she came back to Michigan specifically to attend Aquacade, a tradition she called "the most amazing thing ever." She said it reminds her of the tight-knit community she now misses.

"I haven't been here in in 10 years, but everyone is cool to me," she said.

Many cite the community's rich history as a reason for the bond neighbors feel. Kyle Staulter, 50, recalls her subdivision's humble history. 

Self-reliance a foundation of community

The area was originally developed in 1936 as a government-sponsored, low-income housing development in West Bloomfield Township between Commerce Road and Middle Straits Lake. James Couzens, a Ford Motor Co. executive and later a U.S. senator, invested $500,000 into the community on top of the money from the federal government. Staulter said Couzens was adamant the housing not be given away, but that residents make monthly mortgage payments so they felt a sense of ownership in their homes.

What resulted was a community that relied on itself, Staulter said. Beyond paying for their housing, early Westacres neighbors had to establish their own infrastructure, including a volunteer fire department, public transportation system, credit union and co-op food store stocked with food grown by residents in mandatory gardens.

"They were dirt poor," Staulter said.

Beyond infrastructure, the community relied on each other for entertainment, with plays and community events like Aquacade. "They had to make their own fun," Staulter said. These traditions, carried on to this day, helped make the community what it is, she said.

Curtis Paul, 53, moved to Westacres when he married his wife, who grew up in the area. He said he loves the fun and competition of Aquacade and is eagerly awaiting the announcement of the winning team Sunday.

Paul was on the winning red team in 2010 and said is confident it will dominate once again.

"Red will win. We will continue our winning streak," he said. "That is my prediction this year. As it always is."