Trip 2: October 5th

Today I set out to the outskirts of Ann Arbor to hit ten parks I’ve never been to (or heard of before). It was a cool fall morning, though I was a bit sad the leaves hadn’t started changing colors yet. Today I wanted to reflect on the importance of parks to communities (neighborhoods specifically) because today’s parks are mostly located in neighborhoods. I had a park down the street from me growing up and it was the most amazing thing for me to go and walk three houses down to play. Having accessible green space is so important, so I wanted to focus on the smaller green spaces around Ann Arbor that focus on proximity to people.

South Maple Park was a straightforward start to the day. A small stretch of green space nestled between roads and houses. It had a nice playground, green space, and a hidden trail through the woods. A short stop, but a pleasant one.

Hansen Nature Area was a lovely surprise! It was a beautiful forest with roughly a half mile walking trail which was quite lovely for a cool fall day

Upon writing this post, I realized that I had no idea what the actual difference between a nature area and a park was. From my observations, nature areas were more lush with nature and forests whereas parks generally were cleared out green spaces with an occasional playground. I liked Mecklenburg county’s definition of the difference. Parks are places where people can enjoy nature whereas nature areas are places where nature is conserved for the purpose of nature itself. 

Dicken Woods Nature Area was pretty expansive. It also had a nice walking trail but most of it was woods that I didn’t want to aimlessly wander through since there was no path. Though now knowing the definition of a nature area, I will let that slide.   

Las Vegas Park had a name that did not live up to expectations. It’s not like I was expecting a neon sign or anything but still if you are going to give a park a name like that, it better have something pretty cool in it. Still, it had some nice playground equipment, including some monkey bars, a sand pit, and a zipline. Again, a great neighborhood park that I am sure lots of children enjoy.

Dicken Park was lively even in the cool weather, and I loved how many benches and open grassy areas there were. It reminded me of how parks become extensions of people’s backyards. They are a place where kids learn independence, where neighbors chat, and where weekend mornings unfold slowly. It felt like the kind of park that quietly knits a neighborhood together.

Mushroom park lived up to its namesake unlikes Las Vegas Park because it had concrete, decorated mushrooms! It was a nice neighborhood park and I was definitely a fan of the mushrooms, it brought some personality to an otherwise regular park.

Eisenhower Park was one of those long, narrow stretches of green tucked between houses, the kind of place that looks boring at first glance but becomes a little more charming once you actually walk through it. I also researched this place a little bit and found that the trail was actually born out of a neighborhood volunteer coalition. Once again showing how parks can be a great third space, bringing neighbors together and creating a sense of community outside.

Lawton Park was nice. It’s right next to Lawton elementary school. The playground and open field looked like they get tons of use, even early in the morning. It felt like the kind of neighborhood park that quietly becomes part of people’s daily routines

Meadowbrook Park was another neighborhood park at the end of a cul-de-sac. I’ve honestly been very surprised at how many neighborhood parks are in Ann Arbor. This park also had some great playground equipment and a sandpit. I’ve been surprised at how many sandpits I have seen today.

Landsdowne Park was also housed in a neighborhood. Lansdowne was quiet and simple, a patch of green nestled into the neighborhood. 

Overall, this journey has made me want to live next to a park in my neighborhood! I love that there are so many parks next to people’s houses because it makes green space more accessible. I also am a big fan of these nature areas as well. It’s a great opportunity to have natural green space and woods around otherwise plowed over spaces.