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
[email protected] or stop by Fuller Park Pool to pick up your VEP gear or the walk tracker card.
Know Before You Go!
Use this page for a complete list of Ann Arbor parks along with addresses and additional park information. A printed map (slightly outdated) is available by contacting GIVE365 at [email protected] or 734-794-6445.
Park Walks to explore on your own
Please remember to wear a mask and stay 6 feet apart from others outside your household.
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.
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.
Please remember to wear a mask and stay 6 feet apart from others outside your household.
