One of my favorite local parks to walk with my dog! We typically get on the trail from the south…read moreentrance, which has plenty of parking, fields for sports, a play structure, and some pavilions. Hike is on the easier end, with wide paths. Would note that that it is prone to get muddy so expect that after rain and dress accordingly. Note - they've taken down the old boardwalk. Not sure if they are just removing it or if they are creating a new one? Pittsfield township also often has fun activities in the park, like Halloween or St Patrick's Day themed walks/"scavenger hunts". Cute little touch.

Uncrowded park for jogging or walking 2-3 miles near Ann Arbor! I drove here (about 9 minutes)…read morefrom the Hyatt Place. This park has two sections (North and South). I took time to walk along the path from the parking lot, past the soccer fields toward Turtle Pond. You'll need to walk about 0.5 miles to see the pond, but it's a lovely respite and seems dog-friendly. One downside is the proximity of I-94 which means that you'll hear the background noise of cars and trucks in the distance. It's not super-loud, but noticeable if you had expected a serene walk. Another downside is that the trail does not have clear signs or color stripes - but you can figure out the main route by using the pond as your guide. Would recommend folks staying in the hotels on the south side of Ann Arbor to give this park a try - it was really nice for jogging or a long walk.

There's a park that backs up to the fish pond at Saline Fisheries Research Station, and I find it…read moreamusing that it's called Wilderness Park, being that it's on the southern edge of downtown Saline. It's two acres of wilderness right on the edge of suburbia. You'll see a strip of mowed lawn along Willis Road, where it dead ends into Saline Milan Road. That's the northern edge of the park, which goes all the way back to the pond. Park on the street, or else in the gravel parking lot at Willis and Saline/Milan, opposite Fifth Corner. There are two paths into the wilderness. There is a faded map to help you chart your course. The trees are tall, so it's a good place to walk the dog on a chilly, windy day. If you go all the way to the shore of the pond, there are some benches, in case you want to sit and meditate on nature for a while. The pond sees a lot of action: mallard ducks, Canada geese, kingfishers, egrets, herons, etc. Most years, I have seen a pair of swans raise babies.

It was going to be a hot, humid summer day. We needed a shady park for our walk with the dog. To…read morePeople's Park, and step on it! The park is a skinny little strip of trees and shade that runs east to west through downtown Saline, between the S. Ann Arbor St. / Pleasant Ridge Dr. intersection and Monroe Street opposite the Oakwood Cemetery. You can park on Pleasant Ridge and cross the street on foot, or you can go over to Monroe Street and park in the lot behind Annie's Children's Center. The baseball diamond, basketball court and tennis courts are behind Annie's off Monroe. The rest of the park consists of the shady trails that run mainly east to west through the trees, though there is an open area that might or might not be mowed. Perfect for flying a kite or RC plane. Sometimes the mosquitoes are pretty bad in the shade. You might want bug repellent. Also, be careful of the poison ivy, but the trails are wide and you won't have much danger of stepping in the P.I. if you stay on the trails.

This is a very nice park. It located deep within a residential neighborhood. There is plenty of…read moreroom for picnics and even a public event. There is just one portable public toilet here, so, if you have any event you would want to plan accordingly. The parking lots are in good condition, however, compared to the size of the park they are rather small. The neighborhood is quiet where the park is located. There is a mix of play equipment. Some classical slides and 'merry-go-round'. One slide is super tall. There is also a more modern play area. There is plenty of walking space. The ball field is in good condition for baseball and softball. When dry the fields should be fine for volley ball.

We love this hidden gem. Swingset, monkey bars, two slides and a merry-go-round tucked off of a…read morepaved walking/biking path and complete with picnic tables makes this a great place to play. The park is within walking distance of the library and also has a small basketball court and a baseball diamond (with bleachers and a drinking fountain). I love that it's so removed from the road--I can let the kids run up and down the hills without worrying about traffic. We spent time here as much as possible.

Risdon Park is named after Orange Risdon, the surveyor who mapped out the town long ago. Risdon…read morePark is tiny, actually more like a mere vacant lot, but it has a sunny mowed lawn and playground equipment sized for little kids. I never realized this plot was a park until I checked the map. That's because there is no sign to tell you it is a park, and it seems to be just a large side yard to the adjoining house, so that one would never know it was OK to stay and play. Like I said, only good for really little kids, since the place is small. Otherwise, very nice. At the NE corner of S. Ann Arbor Street and Pleasant Ridge Drive in downtown Saline. Across the street from the nature trail called People's Park.

Mary J. McCann Park is on the east side of Warner Road, south of Bemis and north of Willis. It's a…read morebit hidden by all the trees, but the entrance is well marked with a sign and a fence. There is no parking lot, per se, but there is room to park about a half dozen cars. There will be mosquitoes as soon as you emerge from your car, so be prepared. Also bring your hat and sunscreen, if it's a hot and sunny day, because even though this place looks shady and dark from the road, most of it is open prairie. It's only about a quarter mile through the buggy part of the park. Stay on the trail to avoid the poison ivy, which is a native species, so no complaining--it's a food source for luna moth larvae--did you know that? If you keep heading due east, you will emerge into a very open and sunny part of the park. There are signs to identify some of the trees and flowers you will see there. Some of the signs identify non-native species. I wish they would distinguish. Just a little detail that we nature freaks would notice. There are mowed paths all over the open part of the park. Here and there, you will find plantings of native wildflowers. In the very center of the park, there is a pavilion, but no tables. I think the chimney provided as a home for chimney swifts is a neat idea. Where did they nest before there were chimneys? Hollow trees, I suppose.

There are two ball fields, picnic tables under a gazebo, and a playground. I came for the trail in…read morethe woods. It runs through eminent domain land with nearby power towers. However, the trees hide them and the shade and cool of the canal made it a nice little escape. Cross the red wooden bridge and look for the trailhead.

Montibeller is part of the Pittsfield Township parks system, and it's a nice one for families,…read moreespecially. I tend to like my parks to focus on nature trails and good picnicking areas. This does have trails along Paint Creek, but the main focus is on sports at this park. It has softball and baseball diamonds and tennis courts and is used for cross-country skiing and school nature activities. There's also a large playground in it. The park has nice, big, shady pavilions and picnic tables in more sunny areas as well. It's very close to the local Meijer and Target, so if you run out of supplies, you don't even have to get in your car to get some extra paper plates or potato salad.

Woohoo! is right. I stopped here after a marathon shopping strip to stretch my legs and allow…read moreeveryone to have something to do. I am so glad I did. The only drawback I had was the fact that the sign on the westbound way points to the park but that entry was closed to vehicles and open only to strollers and cyclists. This was a problem because the roadway there is a two-lane highway and though there was light traffic then I can imagine it would be a concern during high traffic times. Use normal driving caution. The other entry was just fine though you need to turn in off the highway to get to the entrance. The lost is paved well and in good order. The park's amenities are great. They had a portable toilet there that was in good condition and appeared to be serviced regularly. Some sort of permanent station would be nice in the future. The park is unique and wonderful as it has preserved the marshy and swampy area around it while supporting several activities. There are three great playsets. Two for younger children and one for older children and even adults. There is a disc golf field running through the park so that was nice. The pathways are suitable for jogging or cycling. There is a basketball court there as well. The transition from park to nature is done very well with plantings of River Birch that are in good condition. This is a great place for bird watching and small hikes as well.