Trip 4: November 10th

On today’s journey, I set out to run 6 miles and visit 4 parks very familiar to me. My goal was to reflect on my college experience as I’ve run through these 4 parks since I first got to campus as a freshman. The parks are right along the border-to-border trail that runs about 42 miles long from Ann Arbor to Dexter and mostly follows alongside the Huron River. 

My first stop was Devonshire Park, which I wouldn’t necessarily call a park but more of a pass-through path between a neighborhood and the Gallup Park trail. It’s surprisingly lush with trees for being such a small park, though it sits awkwardly between two houses, so it’s hard to tell what’s city property and what's residential. The coolest thing I saw in the park was a tree house, which was definitely made by the kids living in the house next door. I was surprised that I’d never seen it before, given how often I’d run through Devonshire. But I’d never really stopped to look around since I always found the park pretty underwhelming. This was a good reminder for me to take a step back and continue to appreciate the small moments that have shaped my college career. Though it sounds cliché, I’ve been reminiscing quite a lot recently and want to make sure I am appreciating every part of my college experience before I graduate.

Straight through Devonshire was Gallup Park, which I think may be my favorite park in all of Ann Arbor (though that may change after I finish this challenge). The park runs parallel to a train line, and for the first time, I had to wait for a train to pass by before entering the park. It reminded me of the Amtrak trips I would take to and from my hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan, during my freshman year of college for breaks before I had a car on campus. Those trips made me thankful that I lived close to home (about 2 hours away from campus) and for public transportation! I used to spend the majority of those journeys looking out the window of the train at the various Michigan farmland, always surprised at how rural it was directly outside of Ann Arbor. 

But enough with my tangent, back to the park! It’s hard to tell where this park starts and ends because it’s so expansive. I first explored the two different playground structures, which were bustling with kids on a seemingly busy Friday morning. The first structure was your typical playground, nothing impressive except for a free bike air pump. The second structure (called the Rotary Playground since the AA Rotary club paid for it) is by far my favorite. It’s right alongside the water and has two different areas with a ton of accessible equipment for kids, and it’s nature-themed, so all the structures resemble grass, cattails, trees, and more. 

(Rotary park pictures credits to Ann Arbor Parks and Rec Department)

As I continued along the path, I was surprised at how many people I saw on this trail, which has been a consistent theme throughout my runs in college. No matter the weather, there are always people of all ages walking, running, and biking the trail. I stopped by a mural underneath the bridge and admired how gorgeous the water looked on the cool, fall day. The path led me across a bridge to the livery, which is also a part of Gallup Park. If you haven’t yet, I would highly recommend renting a canoe or kayak on a warm summer day and traveling down the Huron River. I stayed in Ann Arbor over the summer of 2024, and it was one of my favorite things to do with friends on the weekend. 

The livery is quite close to Furstenberg Nature Area, which is slightly confusing to navigate and a little muddy. Pro tip: Do not turn down any of the non-wooden trails unless you want to get lost. This area takes you out almost into the middle of the Huron River, which is pretty if you are ignoring how muddy you’ve gotten. I’m not sure I would recommend visiting this area unless you find yourself wanting to be in the woods.

I cleaned the mud off me and then headed to Ruthven Nature Area, just outside of Gallup Park between Huron and Geddes Road. It’s a cute area, though it almost looks unkempt, but I think that’s how it was supposed to be. All the trails were unpaved, which led to several deer and rabbit sightings. I was curious about the area because it seemed a little out of place next to Gallup Park and Huron High School. Upon looking at the Ann Arbor Parks website, the area was actually formed by the glaciers thousands of years ago, and it currently sits on a hill called a kame, which supports a different type of sandy ecosystem that you wouldn’t traditionally see in Ann Arbor or the Midwest in general.

As I wrapped up my six miles and stepped out of Ruthven, I was surprised by how new these parks felt now that I was exploring them with more intention. This route, especially Gallup Park, has been an important part of my college experience. It’s seen me on study breaks, through half-marathon training, with friends kayaking down the river, and in moments of struggle where I ask myself why I ever started running in the first place. Seeing these parks again with a slower pace made me realize how much they’ve shaped my time in Ann Arbor and how I need to remind myself to slow down a little more and appreciate where I’m at right now.