Firefighters Park

(44 reviews)

3.1 mi

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!"

Tree house slide

Lights for Christmas.

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Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve

4.6

(49 reviews)

11.8 mi

Nice walking trails - I think it's about 1.3 miles around the trail one time. Little benches to sit…read moreon and reflect on the world's problems or to just be in nature. Lake is pretty and calming. I saw a couple deer and some little furry friends while on my walk. Not sure if you should stay on the trails but some others who were walking were not......

Beautiful walk, perfect for a quick afternoon stroll. Some areas are nice and shaded and others are…read moresunny!

Some kid called this a fort

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Wonderful stroll through the trees

Sylvan Glen Lake Park

4.8

(5 reviews)

2.5 mi

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.

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Boulan Park

4.6

(7 reviews)

2.5 mi

Used to play softball here on an intramural team; park is still in great shape! We took a quick…read more walk this past weekend when it was chilly, and loved tucking in out of the wind, under this giant pine tree. What a beautiful tree! Definitely look forward to having a family gathering here this summer!

Our Real Estate Investors Group has met here a couple of times since the shutdown happened. We can…read moreget together outside and be safer than in an enclosed meeting room. As other reviewers have noted, Boulan Park offers a number of amenities such as tennis courts, baseball diamonds, volleyball, running tracks, along with facilities for gatherings like our group. There is plenty of parking for whatever you plan to do here. We were set up at one of the gazebos with pizza, subs, water, and soft drinks. Attendance was a bit light with 30-40 people but it was easy to spread out. We were busy and arrived late and the subs were gone but there still was enough pepperoni pizza left so we didn't leave hungry! Our group consists of real estate investors so naturally the discussions were focused on buying and selling properties. The facilities that we used was a nice covered gazebo on a concrete floor big enough to spread out with 15-20 picnic tables. Restrooms are located a short walk away but I didn't use them and can't comment on them. Even the weather was pleasant with a light breeze and sunshine, not sure if the park provided that for us. Overall a great and popular city park!

City of Troy Park Rules

Tennis

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Baseball diamond

Raintree Park

4.2

(17 reviews)

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.

Dugout view

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Brinston Park

(3 reviews)

5.5 mi

I like this park. It has basketball courts and tennis court. It has a huge field for running…read morearound. Also, there are bbq tables and nice big playground. There are trees by the playground you can hide under from the sun.

Have hosted my daughter's Sweet 16 at Brinston Park. Great location & park activities! We…read morearranged a food Truck (GoCheez) - and it was perfect for our guests. The picnic benches under the pavilion were convenient to walk to the food. The park attendant was super helpful. Everything was great. Have held impromptu other events here too

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Quarton Lake Park

4.5

(14 reviews)

It's a nice walk along Lakeside road at the end of Harmon street, off of north old Woodward…read more It's too bad the path doesn't go around the whole circumference of this small lake. Only goes on the one side is all. There's a path on the side but it doesn't go around is all. The path is covered with small rocks, not so friendly to the thin sole flats. It's a chilly evening but a nice brisk walk tonight. There are some nice houses on the wall as well.

A beautiful, serene, and peaceful gem a stone's throw from the rat race. Lucky to live within…read morewalking distance.

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Booth Park

(10 reviews)

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

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Robinwood Park

3.7

(3 reviews)

Cutest little park with a nice meandering trail, but absolutely no parking lot and no parking on…read morethe side streets nearby. I guess if you could drop in via helicopter, you'd be OK. No bathroom as well. My guess is it's for the neighborhood.

In 2024, the Wonderful City of Troy agreed to add park benches, some placed along the walking…read moretrail, and at least 1 bench in the Children's play area. The above was a result of surrounding community involvement, organized by the Sweetapple family. Thank you City of Troy DPW!

Heritage Garden

5.0

(4 reviews)

9.3 mi

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!

Summer drone show over the lake!

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Innovation Hills Park

(44 reviews)

3.1 mi

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!"

Tree house slide

Lights for Christmas.

See all

Sylvan Glen Lake Park

4.8

(5 reviews)

2.5 mi

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.

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Chief Gene Shepherd Park

(3 reviews)

6.6 mi

I've driven by this park quite a few times over the past year and always was impressed with how…read moreclean and cool looking it was. I finally had the time to stop in yesterday with my date and his kids to check the place out, and we both were pleasantly surprised with how much fun it was. For starters, the park is really well kept. Grass was cut, parking lot was clean and well maintained and all equipment was in good working order. After walking around for a bit, we both realized there was more to do then meets the eye from the road. There's plenty to do for both kids and adults. The one thing that drew my eye initially was the picture of the fire truck on the wall of the building they have right next to the parking lot. The park itself is named after a fire chief, thus, the fire truck theme going on here. They have tons of stuff to do here. They have a lovely covered pavilion with plenty of seating and well maintained picnic tables. They also have a play area for the kids, soccer fields, a horse shoe area, tennis courts and a sand volley ball area. They also had an area that appeared to be a Bocce Ball court, but no equipment to play the game. Also, there was a building with the fire truck painted on that I assume has bathrooms or a tribute area inside. I can't say for sure because the doors were locked and you couldn't see much through the doors. The only downfall to this park is no obvious place for bathrooms. I assume it's in the building but I cannot say for sure. I also saw a few adults walking with fishing poles and equipment. I guess you can go fishing around here as well. I believe there's hiking trails as well if your interested in that also. This park is a great addition to the community and everything about it was impressive. I am sure I will be back in the future!

The splash pad at Chief Gene Shepherd Park is beautiful. The park is beautiful and clean, updated,…read moreand filled with exciting water features for children. My family loves visiting the splash pad on hot days and I love taking them. This splash pad is perfect!

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Freedom Boat Club Lake St. Clair

4.9

(8 reviews)

20.2 mi

I really like this Freedom location. Easy on and off the boat via the dock. No steep steps up to…read morethe boat. I like the restaurant options in the area. Of course, the Freedom people are always super helpful.

We have been members for two years and absolutely love FBC. It's definitely worth the money when…read morecompared to boat ownership and we often use reciprocal clubs in the winter/spring. The employees are always friendly and helpful. You show up and get on a boat. Leave the rest to them.

Harsens Island

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Simple Adventures

4.6

(12 reviews)

23.3 mi

We rented a kayak through their online booking for one hour. In the email it stated that you should…read morearrive 15 minutes early. Well we got there early and once it became our start time, noone was there. I ended up calling them to make sure someone was coming, and I was able to get a hold of a staff member who said they would be there in a couple of minutes. Well that turned into about 15 minutes later. Once the staff member came, they got the kayak on the water, showed us how to get in and gave us life jackets. The actually kayaking was nice and the weather was good that day. Basically two ways you can kayak through a nature area or by some huge lake houses. Both are obviously beautiful choices. So overall, it was a decent adventure but just did not like the fact they were late in getting things started.

The associate onsite was great. We rented 2 paddleboards at the park in New Baltimore, MI and were…read moregiven 2 very short paddles that were missing the section to extend/adjust the paddle to the person's height. As a result the paddles were to short. The only other option was to use a kayak paddle. If you are renting paddle boards and don't have the correct equipment to make it enjoyable and physically comfortable for all customers then you should not rent them.