thumb|Huron-Clinton Metroparks System mapThe Huron–Clinton Metroparks system is a regional park system in Metro Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan. The park system includes 13 parks totaling more than arranged along the Huron River and Clinton River forming a partial ring around the metro area. Plans are in development to finish the ring by building hike/bike trails to connect all the parks as a green belt. The parks draw about 7.5 million visitors a year, down from a peak of 10 million in 2009. The park system is primarily tax-funded with a $50 million annual budget.

  • Delhi Metropark, , opened 1957
  • Dexter-Huron Metropark, , opened 1952
  • Hudson Mills Metropark, , opened 1957
  • Huron Meadows Metropark, , opened 1984
  • Indian Springs Metropark, , opened 1982
  • Kensington Metropark, , opened 1947
  • Lake Erie Metropark, , opened 1980
  • Lower Huron Metropark, , opened 1947
  • Lake St. Clair Metropark, , opened 1950
  • Oakwoods Metropark, , opened 1975
  • Stony Creek Metropark, , opened 1964
  • Willow Metropark, about , opened 1970
  • Wolcott Mill Metropark, , opened 1989

The park system features 84 miles (135 km) of paved hike/bike trails at nine Metroparks for walking, bicycling and in-line skating. Activities in the parks include picnicking, swimming, hiking, golf and disc golf, horseback riding, canoeing and boating, biking, geocaching and fishing. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, sledding and toboggan runs, ice skating and ice fishing. Lake Erie Metropark was previously home to a wave pool, but has been in disuse since 2020 as a result of unaddressed maintenance needs. No plans for reopening have been announced.

An overpopulation of white-tailed deer in the parks in recent years was handled by a controversial special archery hunt. In 2019 the system conducted prescribed burns on 115 acres of land.

See also

  • Tourism in metropolitan Detroit

References

  • Official website