5 Detroit Parks your Children will Love!
Did you know that Detroit has over 350 parks inside its city limits? There are numerous benefits of taking your children to the park. From social interaction to learning about new places and environments, there’s something for everyone in the numerous parks that Detroit has to offer.
When my children were young, we lived on the 2nd floor with no opening windows and no yard. Parks were a major part of our daily activities. The park not only provided them with much-needed fresh air and sunshine but was where they learned so many things from how to wait your turn to how to interact with other kids and adults. The park was a safe place for them to explore, test their limits, and build strength and gross motor skills.
We have visited countless Detroit parks, but I narrowed down my list to 5 parks I know your family will enjoy!
Less than 3 miles from Detroit Prep, Belle Isle is truly a world-class park. It’s huge, surrounded by water, and has multiple places to explore the world with a child. Detroit and Windsor’s skyline can be seen from Sunset Point on the west side of the island. While on the east side you can hike or golf and see Lake St. Clair. There are 2 large playgrounds, numerous covered picnic areas, and several sports fields.
On Belle Isle, you will also find an aquarium, nature center, and ship museum. The Belle Isle Aquarium is the oldest public aquarium in the United States, and it will be celebrating its 120th birthday this year. Designed by Albert Kahn, the fish tanks are meant to look like pictures on the stunning Pewabic tile walls. Also designed by Albert Kahn and adjacent to the Aquarium, you’ll find the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. The conservatory's eye-catching dome covers many exotic plants and has a lily pond.
In the summer, the beach is where you will often find me with my feet in the water, taking in the city views!
William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor is located in the heart of downtown Detroit but feels a world apart. There are nature ponds, natural grasses, a harbor, and a lighthouse. This is a great place for the child in your life to learn more about the environment that was here before the city was built and interact with other people.
There is also a playground here, and it connects to Detroit’s award-winning Riverfront, which is a solid place for your kid to learn to ride their bike! Throughout the year, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy hosts many family-friendly programs. A favorite for my kids when they were younger was Reading and Rhythm on the River. It is a long-standing free weekly summer program that provides kids with musical entertainment, a read-aloud, a free carousel ride snack, a craft, and a book to take home, all for free!
Rouge Park is Detroit’s largest, and it offers endless opportunities to expose your child to sports, exercise, socialization, and life experiences.
There are 12 playgrounds, three pools, and hiking, biking, and walking trails. There are multiple natural environments to explore, and you can even kayak or fish on the river. Rouge Park is the kind of place you can visit 100 times and still not see everything, so it’s a great place to start exploring with your child at a young age!
Also less than 3 miles from Detroit Prep, Maheras Gentry Park is one of my personal favorite parks in Detroit for a number of reasons. There is a playground, workout equipment, a lagoon, picnic areas, sports fields, and a stellar view of Detroit. This is a unique space for your child to explore the world around them, making friends in the process.
Whether you’re looking for somewhere to have an impromptu picnic or somewhere for kids to get their energy out, this is a good stop. Plus, they can learn about the natural environments on the shore of the river that makes Detroit so special.
Palmer Park pairs history with nature, which is an excellent combination. The park dates back to the 1890s, and there’s even a historic log cabin and a fountain that used to be in front of the Opera House downtown. The City of Detroit has its mounted police headquarters here, so on most days, you can actually see the off-duty horses!
There is a disc golf course, sports fields, and tennis/pickleball courts and the large shady trees make it a great place to get out for an adventure to escape the city for a while.
With over 350 parks in Detroit to choose from, I hope I have inspired you to explore parks in the Motor City! No matter where you go in Detroit, there are people to meet, things to learn, and exercise to be had. Have fun!
💚Ms.Kira