Really nice park in metro Detroit - there's something for everyone here. In the front, there's…read moreplenty of play structures/areas for kids of all ages. There's also a covered pavilion and lots of benches/picnic tables throughout. Dogs are allowed on leashes so you can include the whole family - even the fur baby. There is also a nice pond and water feature to walk around, and nature trails in the back. They have some fun lawn games to play near the pond too. One trail has a bridge that connects all the way to the green space on the other side of the Clinton River. My personal favorite is the pond with turtles that you can find lounging on logs on sunny days. There's even a kayak launch and other access points into the Clinton River. Tons of wildlife to view - we've seen plenty of deer, chipmunks, squirrels, turtles and cool birds. There is on-site paid parking (and free overflow across the street) but otherwise the park is free, which is really nice. I always see workers riding around in a golf cart emptying trash, making sure the park is clean. They even have bathrooms and a kona ice truck that I've seen on weekends. What more could you want?

Let's get this part out of the way - The park itself? Amazing. It is modern, has plenty of options,…read moreis well maintained, and has some great nature paths outside of the playground area. In an area that features many great playgrounds and parks to take your family to, Innovation Hills has always stood out. There is a lack of options for younger children though (no infant swings?). The three stars? One of the new features of this park is the addition of Park Mobile being introduced for the main parking lot. Signs everywhere reminding you that you better have paid your $1.50 an hour! There is of course a free dirt lot across the busy road for your convenience. Or a parking 'annual pass' you can purchase from the Rochester Hills website. Our society struggles with the concept of 'the third place'. Parks and playgrounds are a haven for families and a community builder outside of work and home. What in the world is the motivation behind suddenly charging for parking? 1 - The City of Rochester Hills wants to prioritize park access for its citizens? Charging for parking doesn't keep out non-residents and in fact just causes Rochester Hills citizens to pay more for something they are already paying for. 2 - The park is often extremely crowded so charging for parking may reduce visitor count? If this was the motivation I am confident this strategy is not working. 3 - We want to encourage more families to park in the dirt lot across the street and attempt to cross a highway? I have more faith in humanity than that. Oh, I think I got it! To quote Tim Robinson's sketch 'The Driving Crooner' - "I gotta figure out how to make money on this thing..it's simply TOO GOOD!"

I absolutely love Dodge Park for the facility and for the events they hold. In the summer they…read morehave free concerts in the park on Thursdays at 7:00 and they have really good bands. Also on Thursdays while the concerts are going on, They have food trucks and a farmers market in their pavilion area so there's plenty to eat, drink and buy. They usually have police directing traffic and they have plenty of parking in their lot and in nearby lots. There is also a nice splash pad area that is very popular and wonderful trails for walking and biking. There are plenty of restrooms in the immediate area too.

We love this park! Not only do they have an amazing splash pad and farmers market on Thursdays…read more They have so many cool events and concerts in the summer. We love the trails and pond to feed the ducks. It's our go to place for the summer and we never miss a farmer's market! Check it out!

I absolutely adore Heritage gardens, they do a fantastic job with the upkeep, very beautiful. It is…read moreadmittedly a smaller park, but none the less enjoyable, and leashed pet friendly. The main walking path is probably around 1/3 of a mile, so a quick walk; but there are a few trails that branch off, leading to a children's play area, courts, or nearby municipal buildings. There are many benches available to sit and enjoy the scenery, or watch the ducks; the lake has multiple fountains, and 3 different docks to enjoy. A stunning park for photo opportunities as well, and they hold a lot of community events, which is a big plus in my book. Definitely recommend checking it out if you get the chance.

The best park ever. the lake is beautiful. such a lovely place for a stroll. very safe and a…read moreperfect spot to take pictures!

Raintree Park is one of the greater parks in Troy. It is a half wooded and half open space with a…read morepaved walking loop throughout. I especially loved that the park has partnered with the Troy Public Library to make the loop a Storybook Trail, which changes books monthly! Visitors can enjoy a 9-hole disc golf course, ball diamond, play structures, swings, sand volleyball, and a picnic shelter. The swings include traditional swings, baby bucket swings, as well as one ADA swing. There is plenty of parking and the restrooms seem to be open seasonly.

Nice park for gathering; baseball diamond, disc golf course, walking path, playground and a…read morepavilion. Restrooms seemed nice and there was an employee emptying the trash cans.

Sylvan Glen Lake Park is a hidden gem right off Rochester Road…read more It is great for a walk, picnic, and fishing. The back and forth walking path is paved leading around the lake into a beautiful forest area. Only about a third of the lake is accessible since the neighboring golf course locks the northern side. The accessible lakeside is shallow. Along the lake you will find benches to rest at or fishermen young and old. The onsite restrooms and water fountain were super helpful! Sylvan Glen Lake Park is a great spot to spend for the day or even stop on the way home from work for a fresh breath of air!

There is now a new paved bike and walking trail around the lake that opened up this past Spring…read more2021. It is part of the Troy Trails and such a great addition. Since the trail was completed more people are coming here to walk, bike, and fish especially in the evening hours. The trail doesn't go around the whole lake but a semicircle from the side opposite of the golf course. It's a short .75 mike tail and at the end goes through the woods and leads you into a neighborhood subdivision. The only thing this place needs now is an outdoor bathroom and water fountain.

This has been such a fun spot to meet friends and have playdates in the past. I love how there is…read moreso much for the kids to do in such a small space. I also love how walkable it is, very close to not only parking, but stores and good restaurants. This is a place where we will do lunch then play in the park, especially with friends. This is a spot we have taken people who are not from the area when we want to share a great park idea with them.

Great park. Just hard to get around to the other side with littles running through the tunnelread more

I thoroughly enjoyed my wanderings at River Bends Park, lots of options for your activities while…read morevisiting. I was on a limited time crunch today, so I stuck mostly to the main, paved trails (happily many sections of this path still ran through the woods); but there are hiking and/or biking trails branching off in many directions all throughout the property. Make sure to watch the trail signs, as some are for bikers only. River Bends is also a dog friendly park, note that they must remain on a maximum of a 6ft leash at all times. While I visited today with only my pupperoni, River Bends park is great for kids of all ages. There are a multitude of play areas for children, great to help wear out their energy. There is also a disc golf course that winds throughout the park, supplying players with beautiful nature views. You could also enjoy a BBQ on one of their charcoal grills, relax at a picnic table, or pavilions if you have a large group; nature watch on a nearby bench, our even try out a game of horseshoe. The park appeared well maintained, for the most part; although a few signs could use some repair. They have restroom facilities, and port-a-pottys available for use (although I did not enter them to speak of their cleanliness). You can find trash receptacles around every bend, so there's no excuse for lazy littering, and there is a main sign available showing you all of the trails and their difficulties. You can find this sign posted off to the side of the parking lot; which itself, had plenty of available spots. Definitely a favorite park to stop and enjoy, highly recommend.

When the weather gets nicer out river bends is the place to go for a good walk. There are trails…read moreand spots for good pictures too. The main trail leads you to this tunnel w graffiti. It's another cool spot for pictures and i go often. On top of the tunnel there are train tracks, I'm not sure where they lead to though.

Two nice additions have been added to the park..... A Little Library to take or leave a book and a…read morefood pantry to contribute to or take something you may need. They're both located in the front near the park map, restrooms and basketball courts. There's also a tree near the playground where you can paint a rock at home and set it around the tree. This park is bustling at times during soccer and baseball seasons. With 2 play areas, a couple of covered pavilions offering shelter and shade and indoor restrooms in the front of the park, this is a perfect spot for small gatherings. There are two large grassy areas near the baseball diamond and in the soccer field where you can fly kites, or run with your pet or play any other activity. This is a park the whole family can enjoy with plenty to see as far as plants and trees and animals such as squirrels and birds and rabbits and we've even seen a couple of ducks. When you're in the wooded area walking the path, you forget for a few moments that you're in the middle of the township because it's so peaceful. Come and enjoy whether you want to take a few moments for yourself or have some quality family time. Hope to see you there!

Very small park with two tiny trails. Was not enough for myself and my 4 yo on his bikeread more

I'm so glad they added more parking because wow... this place blew up You can tell they didn't…read morefully expect how popular it would get. On those first nice days of the season? Forget it... it's PACKED. That said, it's honestly such a great park. The walking path is a really good, not too short where it feels pointless but not exhausting either. The landscaping is beautiful and feels really well taken care of, which makes a big difference. The playground is a huge hit with my kids, and the pond with the ducks is always a highlight. It just has that easy, relaxing vibe. Bathrooms are clean, there's a nice pavilion, and tons of open space for picnics or just letting the kids run wild. We keep going back... just maybe not on the very first sunny Saturday

Came here to walk a chilly fall Sunday, first time here and it was alright. Paved walkway for…read moreexercising and walking your doggo, little spots for picture taking (I counted 5 families taking photos), large playground and views of the Clinton River from a few bridges. Length of path is just about 1.4 miles for a loop.

We decided to come visit the Nature Center. It was actually closed when we arrived because a few…read moremonths out of the year it opens 12pm. I suggest calling the day before to check the hours before coming. We tried to walk the trail while waiting and it was closed due to flooding in the clinton river. We saw that the beginning of the trail had a massive puddle and the grass was flooded too. We would love to come back to check that out. We went inside at 12pm. One staff member was very nice and opened the door. We saw some turtles on the pathway. We went inside and saw a giant tank. There was fish, turtles, snakes, and more. There was a little play area as well with a race track, books, bones, and toys. My kids had a lot of fun running around and looking at the different tanks. They had a cute little seed station too which I thought was awesome. They had some interactive areas, one where it tells you to count the rings of wood and another to guess the wood type and smell of the item. I think this is perfect for young toddlers. I do believe older kids would love it as well. We will definitely be back with the kids and check out the trail.

SHNC is one of my favorite nature centers! The animals habitats are always so cute and the animals…read moreso active. Right now the habitats are Easter themed. They have so many interactive activities spread around the building and host fun birthday parties. I always feel bad when we are there during a birthday party - I wish they held the keeper talk in the private party room. They have a great walking path that runs along the river. A playscape is a short walk away from the center. Overall, amazing green space for walking, biking, dog walking, and birding!