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!"

After a long school day, we took the kids to Innovation Hills Park, and they had a blast! The park…read morewasn't too busy, and the kids explored everything, from the playground to the jungle gym. I loved the artificial turf--it keeps the area looking nice year-round. This park has everything--playgrounds, walking trails, a serene area with ducks, and even bathrooms. I'd recommend it to any family looking for a fun day out. Definitely a great spot for outdoor fun!

Bloomer Park is an excellent place for hiking and mountain biking. It's has technical mountain bike…read moretrails as well as moderate and casual. These levels are the same for hiking, so you can get a great workout regardless of experience level. There are multiple wood staircases of varying lengths, so it's great for stair climbing exercise. I've been coming here on/off for several years and have never had a bad experience. I've gone to other state parks where I've gotten swarmed by a lot of bugs, but for whatever reason, not at Bloomer. It's also great that it's located next to downtown Rochester, so food and drink after a casual stroll is accessible. I highly recommend Bloomer Park for hiking and biking activities.

My family and I went to Bloomer Park for their recent, Fossils and Riverside Campfire event (cost…read morewas $10 per person). We had a great time. It was our first visit to this city park, and I was happy to see it was nicely maintained. We only stayed and hiked through a small section of the park, but it was very clean, bathrooms were available, there was a playground for kids, small grills in sections, bike repair areas could be found, and the trails had been recently upkept. The paths we followed were simple and good for families, although I would not recommend dragging a wagon or anything like that with you. There were easy to hike sections, as well as smaller, more off-road trails perfect for those that enjoy mountain biking. There was plenty of wildlife around to view, wooden bridges for crossing streams and marshy areas, and beautiful areas to relax near the Clinton River. It was honestly a great outing, and we'll definitely be back.

This park is especially awesome to me because of the pavilion with the fireplace I think it would…read morebe great on a fall night to make smores! I love that I've been on multiple occasions and it's never crowded, it has a river stream flowing through and basketball court and the skate park is next door. There are also bathrooms nearby and the park is always kept clean. I've attached a video of my experience!

There's a little something for everyone here!…read more The playground is rated for 2-12 year olds, which is a huge range but helpful because I had a 2 year old with me today! I helped a friend get married here years ago and it was so special, intimate, and so easy! The fireplaces can really keep it warm during colder weather. The bees were bothersome today though, so that's as annoying. The trails are great! It's so peaceful despite being right next to M-59. Basketball courts, bike racks, bathrooms (I think they are locked in the winter though)

This is probably one of my absolute favorite parks! It's so large and winding, there are so many…read morepathways and things you can do here, and best of all, you can access it to and from downtown Rochester! I first started going to this park back when Pokemon Go came out all those years ago. I had no idea what this park was all about until that first day I was playing Pokemon Go and just kept following the path on the game's map and then suddenly I looked up and realized I had walked through all of the park and into downtown...all a stone's throw away from my apartment! That started my long-term love affair with this park. I have so many fond memories in here catching Pokemon, but also coming back here with friends and with my dog for walks, playing on the play structures, glancing at the tennis courts and wondering if I should play a bit, hammocking because there are so many great hammocking trees scattered throughout the park, shopping through ARTS & APPLES, ones of the greatest festivals in metro Detroit, and so much more. This park has something for everyone and is also very accessible right off of Paint Creek Trail as well. Parking around here can be interesting, but now that I no longer live at the apartments directly across the street from this park, I find that parking at the Rochester Hills Public Library in downtown Rochester is my favorite option. There is a path that leads all the way behind the library, along the creek, to Paint Creek Trail, with an offshoot to the Rochester Municipal Park, all just a 5 minute walk from the library! This is truly a wonderful park, for fun with your friends, family, and furry ones, in all four Michigan seasons, and I'll never stop enjoying it! :)

Peaceful, beautiful park with lots of trails and great restaurants in the area. Love going here…read morewith my family.

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!

This is probably one of my absolute favorite parks! It's so large and winding, there are so many…read morepathways and things you can do here, and best of all, you can access it to and from downtown Rochester! I first started going to this park back when Pokemon Go came out all those years ago. I had no idea what this park was all about until that first day I was playing Pokemon Go and just kept following the path on the game's map and then suddenly I looked up and realized I had walked through all of the park and into downtown...all a stone's throw away from my apartment! That started my long-term love affair with this park. I have so many fond memories in here catching Pokemon, but also coming back here with friends and with my dog for walks, playing on the play structures, glancing at the tennis courts and wondering if I should play a bit, hammocking because there are so many great hammocking trees scattered throughout the park, for ARTS & APPLES, ones of the greatest festivals in metro Detroit, and so much more. This park has something for everyone and is also very accessible right off of Paint Creek Trail as well. Parking around here can be interesting, but now that I no longer live at the apartments directly across the street from this park, I find that parking at the Rochester Library in downtown is my favorite option. There is a path that leads all the way behind the library, along the creek, to Paint Creek Trail, with an offshoot to the Rochester Municipal Park! This is truly a wonderful park, for fun with your friends, family, and furry ones, in all four Michigan seasons, and I'll never stop enjoying it! :)

Rochester is one of my favorite cities in metro Detroit because of its many beautiful parks and…read moretrails. I enjoy visiting Rochester Municipal Park as it has paved paths, lots of nature and animals, and it connects to Paint Creek Trail. I see children playing ice hockey and fishing among other outdoor activities year round. Everything is so serene and picturesque. There is a large parking lot and the Rochester Police Department is located next to the park.

There is so much more to do here besides just the zip line course. There is also putt putt,…read moretrampolines, and a small playground. We spend the better part of 3 hours here and the kids had a blast. The park does a great job instructing you and there is a wide range of courses from very high (and very challenging) to very easy and not so high up. This is a great place for adults to gang out with their kids of any age doing activities together. Wear sturdy shoes, I recommend having pants and even long sleeves, but the bugs were not bad at all. You must wear protective gloves (but they sell them there). We had a blast and would come back again with kids 9 to 16

Had an absolute riot here for our nephew's birthday party! Incredibly challenging, especially the…read moreblue and black courses. At the same token, some nice and easy yellow and green runs for little kids. Super safe magnetic clipping system that can be annoying at times when it's finicky but 99% of that time it is user error. I never felt unsafe, just out of shape! Highly recommend for a family outing or birthday party!

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.

We do a lot of walking in our local parks. This one definitely is right up there with all it has…read moreto offer. Swimming, playing, picnicking, picnic tables, benches, barbecue grills aplenty, tennis, boats/paddleboats with docks, shelter rental, tent rentals, walking trail, bike trails, concessions, first aid station, changing areas, nature, ducks, geese, swans- oh my! Although there are fees to enter, it's worth it if you plan on spending the day here. In the 'off season' we were able to get into the park without any attendants at the collection booth. There's plenty of parking and from the lot it's an easy walk to the picnic and beach area. All amenities are in close proximity, yet there's plenty of room to stretch out and relax whether you want to bring the entire family or enjoy a day to yourself. The playground offers areas for both the littles and the older kids and is located just steps away from the beach, which by the way has a couple of lifeguard chairs. If you're looking to spend a nice day at a nice park, this is definitely worth a visit because it's fun for all ages.

Compact park in the city but filled with options! Hike the wooded trails or the lakeside trail…read more Fish the water, take a boat out, or swim out from the beach. Play on the playground and grill up some food with charcoal grills. Ample trash cans across the park to keep it clean. The indoor shelter is open as a warming shelter in the winter or available for private party reservations if you need more space than you have at home. Great for exercise or leisure! A little gem of nature in the city!

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.