A2ParkWalks

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Weekly featured walks in the Ann Arbor parks​

There is an abundance of research on why walking in nature is good for our brains, bodies and emotional well-being. Just 20 minutes a day can reduce stress and improve brain function.  While our hosted weekly walk feature is on haitus till the fall, the park walk challenge is still on! Explore parks on your own and track where you walk. Visit Every Park swag is still available to inspire your journey and to celebrate milestones you reach. Contact GIVE 365 at volunteer@a2gov.org or stop by Fuller Park Pool to pick up your VEP gear or the walk tracker card​.

Free Weekly Park ​Walks Hosted by the Ann Arbor Senior Center

 

(Program runs May-October, 2023 schedule coming soon!) 

Please join Ann Arbor Senior Center staff for a weekly one-mile beginner level walk followed by a light snack and socialization. Participants will meet at and explore a different park each week. All parks are within the City of Ann Arbor.

Path conditions may include paved, unpaved and boardwalks (some with little or no elevation changes).

Each walk will be weather permitting, and a weather determination will be made by the morning of each walk.

​Registration is required for this free event. Email mfulton@a2gov.org or call 734.794.6250. 

Know Before You Go!

The parkfinder tool is a great resource for locating parks and finding individual park information or visit the alphabetical park list . A printed map (slightly outdated) is available by contacting us at volunteer@a2gov.org or 734-794-6445. 

If you are looking to visit all the parks this year, be sure to​ check out the Visit Every Park Challenge and guide (PDF) for tracking your adventure.
​

​​Park Walks to explore on your own

 For the complete list of parks to explore, visit the alphabetical park list.  
​Checklist of items
• Shoes with flat, non-skid soles, good heel support, enough room for your toes, and a cushioned arch that’s not too high or too thick.
• Socks to cushion and protect the feet and help keep them dry.
• Clothes that feel comfortable during a walk.
• An ID with emergency contact information, a mobile phone and a small amount of cash.
• A hat or visor for the sun, sunscreen and sunglasses.
• A hat and scarf to cover the head and ears when it’s cold outside.
• Layers of clothing in cold weather that can be removed as a person warms up.
• Waterproof clothing to avoid getting wet if it rains.
• Step counters or other wearable devices to keep track of steps taken.
• Water to drink before, during, and after the walk.

​Use app to help identify what you’re seeing

Use your walk as an opportunity to learn about nature! Have you ever wondered what that pretty flower or that funny-looking bug is? Download an app called Seek to your smartphone and find out! Seek is available for free for iOS and Android, and it  can be used to identify plants, animals and insects you might see in our parks. Earn badges for seeing different types of plants and animals and compete in fun challenges!

 
Your observations can also be submitted to iNaturalist, a global social network of biodiversity information, in which people come together to identify and map the distribution of plants and animals around the world. The information you submit to the iNaturalist database can be used by Ann Arbor parks staff to better understand the biodiversity in our parks.


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Winter walking tips
Check weather before you head out.
Dress in layers and bring along hat and gloves.

Wear shoes that have good traction. Natural areas and paths are not cleared or salted. Walk at your own risk. Consider carrying walking sticks/or poles if you have concerns about your stability.

Consider taking a paper map or download a map on your phone of the area you’ll be driving to and walking.
 
Remember that even with our best efforts to clear and salt the paths, they can be slick and subject to ever changing weather conditions.  

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