Posted July 2, 2020 | The Huron Hub 

Article submitted by Huron-Clinton Metroparks 

Huron-Clinton Metroparks has opened splash pads, campgrounds, farm centers, boat rentals and some pools. We’re ready to welcome you this Independence Day. Reduced capacities and additional precautions are in place to protect visitors and staff.

The Independence Day holiday weekend is right around the corner. And there’s no better excuse for getting together with family and friends to enjoy the outdoors. This year is no exception. Even though the annual Metroparks fireworks shows have been canceled – for everyone’s safety – you’ll still have plenty of ways to enjoy your favorite parks.

“The Fourth of July weekend is always an exciting time in the parks,” says Metroparks Director Amy McMillan. “We’re just as excited this year to welcome everyone into the parks, but we’re taking our safety precautions very seriously. It’s important that visitors continue practicing social distancing.”

Bring your family and hit the trails – enjoy the sights on a nature hike, coast down the hike-bike trail or test your skills on a mountain bike trail. You can still work on your swing at any of the Metroparks golf courses, throw some discs at our disc golf courses or spend the afternoon grilling up something yummy at a family picnic (as long as your gathering doesn’t exceed the 100 person limit set by Governor Whitmer’s current Executive Order).

If it’s sunshine and water you seek, take a dip in the lake at Maple and Martindale Beaches in Kensington Metropark, Eastwood and Baypoint Beaches at Stony Creek Metropark and the beach at Lake St. Clair Metropark. Splash pads are now open at Kensington, Indian Springs and Lake St. Clair Metroparks. So is the pool at Willow Metropark.

The wave pool at Lake Erie Metropark, the pool at Lake St. Claire Metropark and the Turtle Cove Aquatic Center at Lower Huron Metropark remain closed while staff complete maintenance and improvement projects and train lifeguard staff. We haven’t yet set a target date for reopening. According to Director McMillan, “Many of our facilities are operating with reduced capacities and additional precautions in place to protect visitors and staff. It’s best to check our website before your visit so you’re aware of what changes you might find.”

For animal lovers, the farm centers at Kensington and Wolcott Mill Metroparks are now open. Visitors will notice one-way traffic in certain areas and reduced capacities allowed inside barns, but kids and adults alike can still visit their favorite farm friends and enjoy a day at the farm.

Additionally, we’ve reopened other facilities that were closed under previous executive orders:

• Marinas at Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie Metroparks
• Boat rental locations
• Liveries
• Playgrounds in all parks (playgrounds in Lower Huron, Willow, Oakwoods and Lake Erie Metroparks will open July 1 when the order from Wayne County Health Department is lifted)
• Campgrounds at Lower Huron and Stony Creek Metroparks

Please note that the Metroparks team continues to actively monitor attendance in the parks. When overcrowding occurs, we may use temporary closures to certain areas within the parks. Or entire parks. Depending on the time of day that capacity is reached, the park may reopen as visitors leave. Those visitors already in the park when a closure starts are welcome to enjoy the rest of their visit. You can learn about all these closures and precautions before your visit at metroparks.com/covid.