Parks & Rec: Plenty of things to do this weekend in Ann Arbor parks

Look no further for an opportunity to volunteer in the parks!
Be sure to visit GIVE 365 to check out the other volunteer opportunities this fall!

Feels like fall at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market
It’s harvest season at the market! We’re open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., at 315 Detroit Street. You’ll find apples, apple cider, pears, pumpkins, decorative gourds, winter squash, mums, dahlias, peaches, plums, raspberries, tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, eggplant, leafy greens, potatoes, garlic, onions, peppers, microgreens, herbs, plants, honey, eggs, pastured meat and poultry, cheese, bread, baked goods, maple syrup, beverages, prepared food, artisan products and so much more!  We accept cash, and tokens for credit cards and SNAP/EBT/P-EBT are available at our market office window. Please follow all safety guidelines posted and communicated by market staff. Service animals welcome. Accessible restrooms available. More information at our website

Fall boating on the Huron River
The Gallup Livery is open Wednesdays to Sundays until Oct. 23. Enjoy the 1.5-hour Argo to Gallup river trip and stillwater paddling in 2.5-mile Gallup Pond. After the Argo Livery closes for the season all canoe and kayak rentals are based from the Gallup Livery. Gallup is open weekends 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and weekdays 11 a.m.-7 p.m. with last boat rented at 5 p.m. To learn more go online.

Argo to Gallup River Trip – 3.7 miles, 1.5 hours

• In the fall this trip starts at the Gallup Livery with a van ride upriver on the hour every hour between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Paddle down the Argo Cascades, or you can bypass the Cascades if the weather is cold, and on down the Huron River.
• End at the Gallup Livery where your car is parked.
• No reservations needed for we have hundreds of kayaks and canoes available to rent. 

Gallup Pond Stillwater Paddles – 2.5-mile, 2 hours

• Canoes, kayaks, paddleboats available to rent at the Gallup Livery to paddle in Gallup Pond.

Mack Indoor Pool opens Monday
Mack pool (715 Brooks St.) will open for the indoor swim season on Monday, Sept. 26. Sign up for learn-to-swim classes, lifeguard certification, the master swim program and more. Visit the website for details.

Stewardship Workdays Saturday, Oct. 1
NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided

* Buttonbush Nature Area, 9 a.m.-noon. Join NAP for a morning of removing invasive species from Buttonbush Nature Area to help promote both native flora and fauna. Meet at the park entrance at the end of Hickory Point Dr. (map). Preregister here.

* Dhu Varren Nature Area, 1-4 p.m.  A workday of cutting and removing invasive plants here offers the opportunity to experience open woodlands and a large, beautiful wetland. Walk the natural trails and help NAP continue to keep Dhu Varren’s native wildlife thriving! (And don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for those glacial erratics!) Meet at the intersection of Birchwood Dr. and Dhu Varren Rd. (map). Preregister here.

World Habitat Days Sunday, Oct. 2
* Berkshire Creek Nature Area, 9 a.m.-noon. Join NAP to cut and remove invasive shrubs for World Habitat Day. The urban green spaces that NAP and volunteers steward in Ann Arbor are part of the “human habitat” that everyone has a responsibility to protect and conserve. Meet at the end of Warwick Road off Glenwood, North of Washtenaw Ave. Please park on Glenwood. (map). Preregister here.

* Huron Parkway Nature Area, 1-4 p.m. Despite its proximity to a major roadway, Huron Parkway Nature Area is a pretty place to wander through the woods. Malletts Creek flows along the eastern border, and scenic overlooks of the channel can be found here. Cutting and removing invasive shrubs is an opportunity to support the larger habitat for fellow humans on World Habitat Day. This day is a reminder that all have the power and responsibility to protect and conserve natural resources. Meet at the Park Steward’s house, 3470 Woodland Road off East Huron River Dr. (map). Preregister here. Volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday.

Don’t miss these Ann Arbor Senior Center events
Hip stability and fall prevention
Thursday, Oct. 6, 10-11 a.m. Join the senior center staff, together with Dr. Kahn for this workshop (on a Thursday instead of a Wednesday) that will cover the importance of having stable hips to help prevent falls. He will leave the group through a series of exercises. To register, please call 734.794.6250 or email mfulton@a2gov.org. Free of charge.

Weekly park walks for senior
Fridays, 10-11 a.m. Join Ann Arbor Senior Center staff for a weekly guided one-mile beginner level walk at a different park in the City of Ann Arbor! When you register, you will receive a weekly email with instructions on where to meet at/within the selected park. Path conditions may include paved, unpaved and boardwalks (some with little or no elevation changes). Bring your own water bottle, we will have a water refill station and provide a light snack at the end of the walk. Each walk will be weather permitting, and a weather determination will be made by 9 a.m. the morning of the walk. For more information and to register call 734.794.6250 or email mfulton@a2gov.org.

Care Management by Natalie-Senior Support
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 10:30-11:30 a.m. The two time slots available are individual, private sessions. A care manager is a senior resources expert that can assist clients with: Discharging from the hospital, starting or stabilizing caregiving structure in the home, remaining independent at home, choosing and preparing to move to a senior community, creating medical stability or a new diagnosis roadmap, and support, education, and future planning. Together with Care Management by Natalie we can help find your right path through the aging process. To learn more go online.  RSVP to 734.794.6250 or bpatton@a2gov.org.

Save the date: Public input sought
A second public meeting will be hosted Wednesday, Oct. 12, 6-7 p.m. (Ann Arbor Downtown Library, 343 S. 5th Avenue) relating to the Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. Thank you to all who participated in the the first meeting in July. A link to the presentation can be found here. The feedback is greatly appreciated and will help us design a plan that best fits the communities needs. If there are any questions about the ADA Transition Plan, please contact Adam Fercho, Park Planner at afercho@a2gov.org.

Family-friendly trick-or-treat paddle returns! Sunday, Oct. l6
Spend the afternoon enjoying the haunting fall beauty of the Huron River while trick-or-treating by canoe or kayak. As you paddle up and down Gallup Pond, you will encounter creatures handing out treats and candy. Keep an eye out for ducks, swamp monsters, witches and pirates on your adventure on the river! Feel free to join in and dress up! Bring a bag for your candy and your own water bottle. Enjoy lawn games, activities and more. Any time between noon-5 p.m. (last boat leaves at 3 p.m.) $22 / boat. No preregistration required. All ages welcome (children must be one year or older).

Show your love for Ann Arbor with parks themed apparel
As the temps start to drop consider shopping in the Ann Arbor parks online store for hoodies, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts and more. We offer a variety of designs to represent your favorite programs and facilities including Veterans Memorial Indoor Ice Arena, Mack Pool, the Ann Arbor Farmers Market as well as the Visit Every Park and Goats at Work programs. Click here to shop.