Spring has sprung in the Ann Arbor parks

Check out the deals at Gallup Park livery's annual auction
The public auction of used and damaged boats is planned for Saturday, April 26 at noon. Prices generally range from $50-$150 per boat. Boats will be available to view 30 minutes prior to the auction. Boats must be picked up by the end of the day on April 26. Questions? Call Gallup Livery (3000 Fuller Road) 734.794.6240.

Gallup Park prepares for opening day of the 2025 boating season
Gallup Park staff are excited to announce the opening of boating season on Saturday, April 26 providing residents and visitors with opportunities to enjoy the Huron River! Gallup Livery will offer boat rentals Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Expanded summer hour to begin Saturday, May 3. Boaters can choose from two options:

• Stillwater boating on Gallup Pond: Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the pond between 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Argo to Gallup River trip: Experience a scenic 1.5-hour kayaking trip down the Huron River through the Argo Cascades. Vans will depart from Gallup Park on the hour, between 11 a.m.-4 p.m. to transport participants to the starting point at Argo (please arrive at Gallup at least 15 minutes prior to the van you would like to board).

For more detailed information please visit the website. Gallup Park invites everyone to come out and enjoy the water.

Saturday, April 26 don't miss the public auction of used/damaged boats at Gallup Park Livery! We're auctioning off aluminum canoes, two-person kayaks and one-person kayaks. Approximately two canoes, one Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP) and and 15 kayaks, with prices typically ranging from $50-$150. We accept cash, credit cards and checks with identification. Boats must be removed at the time of the auction. No preregistration. Preview the boats at Gallup Park Canoe Livery (3000 Fuller Road) 30 minutes before the noon start time.

April showers bring spring flowers to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market On Saturday, April 26, Ann Arbor Farmers Market will be open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at 315 Detroit Street. Our vendors will have cut flowers, plants, fresh greens, maple syrup, apples, apple cider, mushrooms, root vegetables, honey, eggs, pastured poultry, cheese, bread, pastries, chocolate, beverages, prepared food, jewelry, candles, body care products and more! We accept cash, and tokens for credit/debit card, mobile payment, and SNAP/EBT are available at the construction trailer in the parking lot. The market office building is closed for a demolition/renovation project. Service animals only. Accessible restrooms are available. More information at our websitehttp://www.a2gov.org/market.  Our 7 a.m.-3 p.m. regular season Saturday market hours begin May 3. Our Wednesday market begins for the season on May 7, also 7 a.m.-3 p.m. hours!

Construction update As you may know, the Ann Arbor Farmers Market office is slated to be torn down in May. Abatement work began earlier this week. During the abatement phase at the market, the parking lot will remain open and accessible. Please note the following construction schedule: * The southern portion of the parking lot will be closed Monday, April 28 and Tuesday, April 29. * The parking lot will reopen Wednesday, April 30 and close again Monday, May 5. Crews anticipate the demolition will take two weeks to complete. We kindly ask that all visitors stay outside of the marked demolition zones for your safety at both locations. Importantly, demolition activities will not impact market operations: * The Saturday farmers market and Sunday Artisan Market will continue as scheduled. * The Wednesday farmers market, which resumes May 7, will also operate without interruption. Thank you for your cooperation and continued support as we make way for the future of the farmers market.

Summer camp spots open at your favorite pool Spots remain open for Buhr Park Pool's summer day camp program as well as the City of Ann Arbor swim team the Octopods. Both opportunities provide a fun atmosphere for kids and offer them the opportunity to enjoy the valuable life skill of swimming! Register here for summer camp. Register here for the Octopods swim team.

Spring fling: Don't miss out on a family-fun day at Cobblestone Farm
Join us Sunday, April 27, noon-4 p.m. or an afternoon at Cobblestone Farm! It's a family friendly event that highlights the 19th century farmhouse and grounds as we prepare for spring cleaning and have fun at the same time. Take a tour of the museum with demonstrations throughout the farmhouse and grounds including cooking on the wood stove, loom weaving, farm maintenance and gardening. Activities include historic outdoor games and helpful chores as well as Irish music. Bring lunch and enjoy an outdoor picnic. Last, but not least, welcome back goats in the barnyard for the day. We hope to see you at the farmhouse - rain or shine!  Free admission. Donations are always appreciated to support the museum. Questions?  Contact the CFA at cobblestonefarmassociation@gmail.com or www.cobblestonefarm.org

Get creative with nature! There are two upcoming programs for students in grades 6-12 that offer hands-on experiences using things found in nature to create artwork: Preregister online here for: Block Printing a Leaf Paper Making

Improvements coming to Allmendinger Park this summer The City of Ann Arbor is making improvements to Allmendinger Park as part of the Parks ADA Transition Plan. Following the 2023 playground renovation, a need was identified to renovate existing pathways and improve accessibility throughout the park. The project includes paving the existing entrance and turnaround, adding new barrier-free parking, renovating existing pathways and adding new path connections for better access, installing accessible site furnishings, and adding fencing between Hutchins Avenue and playground area. During construction, there will be limited access to the park, and the entrance and turnaround will be closed so visitors are encouraged to park on nearby streets. The playground, ball fields, and restrooms are planned to remain open during construction, but the pathways connecting to them will be closed at times, so access on a paved surface may be limited. Please follow all posted signage and respect access restrictions. Construction activity may result in noise and dust. Additionally, vehicle access on Pauline Boulevard is limited due to a separate watermain project in the area. Construction on the park improvements is scheduled to begin the week of May 5 and completion is expected in July.

 Ann Arbor Senior Center activities in May
Senior Park Walks
Fridays starting May 2, 10-11 a.m. Join us for a weekly guided one-mile, beginner-level walk at a different park in the City of Ann Arbor! Path conditions may include paved, unpaved, and boardwalks, all of which will have little or no elevation changes. Pack your own water bottle, we will have a water refill station and provide a light snack. Each walk will be weather permitting, and a weather determination will be made by 9 a.m. the morning of the walk. Instructions of where to meet will be emailed prior to Friday. Limited space due to limited parking. Participants may sign up for a walk 2-weeks ahead of the walk date. Preregistration required. Contact 734.794.6250. Free for members; $2 per walk for nonmembers (must be paid at the time of registration).

Workshop: Tell your story – Writing a short memoir
Mondays, May 5, 12, 19 and June 2 (four classes total), 1-2 p.m. Over the course of this four-sessions you’ll try out different strategies for writing a memoir, explore relevant excerpts from authors and discover publishing resources to keep you inspired. This class is recommended for anyone who wants to recall and reflect on the experiences they’ve had over time, explore new ways of describing them, and even start to preserve their stories for family, friends or historical archives. All are welcome — no experience necessary. Class will be led by Emily Buckler, a professional editor and writing coach. We'll have extra notebooks and writing utensils on hand if you need to borrow either. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Workshop: Paper making with natural materials
Tuesday, May 13, 2-4 p.m. Join Eleva Potter, Natural Area Preservation Environmental Educator, for this new workshop. Learn how to make your own paper with leaves and flowers that we’ll collect outside and then turn into your own colorful creations. All materials provided. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Balloon volleyball match
Friday, May 16, 10 a.m.-noon. Join our friend Skye from University Senior Living for this exciting game! This is a class for a fun, low-impact workout that’s perfect for all ages! This heart-healthy activity uses a lightweight balloon for a playful, easy-on-the-joints game that boosts coordination, balance, and cardiovascular health. Whether you're a fitness pro or young at heart, it’s a great way to stay active, social, and energized! Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

We need volunteers: Invasive pulling at Bird Hills Nature Area - Saturday, May 3
Join the Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Volunteer Program to help pull invasive species in the beautiful Bird Hills Nature Area! Volunteer maintenance is needed to help preserve and restore our natural areas and help native species thrive. Questions? Email volunteer@a2gov.org.

• Sign up here through VolunteerHub

Save the date: Project Grow events in the month of May

2025 Project Grow Plant Sale
Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Project Grow annual plant sale will be held the Saturday before Mother's Day at Dawn Farm. Over 70 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, sweet and spice peppers, basils, new offerings of lisianthus, native asclepias and sweet peas all grown locally by Project Grow volunteers. The Seed Share will be on site, dahlia tubers and plants will be for sale along with Dawn Farm Coop member sales. The catalog is available for viewing here. The plant sale is located at Dawn Farm, 6633 Stony Creek Rd., Ypsilanti. Visit www.projectgrowgardens.org for more information.

Project Grow: Supporting Pollinators in the Garden
Thursday, May 8, 7-9 p.m. Online via Zoom. Honey bees are important pollinators, but they aren’t the only ones! Not only that, but they aren't native! Find out about all the other pollinators visiting your garden and how to keep them happy and well-fed - hard-working moths, sloppy beetles and all sorts of native bees and flies. We will explore the incredible relationship between flowers and pollinators and how it has evolved. Learn about simple things you can do in your yard or garden that will keep this dynamic relationship thriving. Bee hotels? Mud baths? Bee shade? Bare ground? Landscaping? Instructed by Royer Held. Visit www.projectgrowgardens.org for more information. Open to ages 18+. Cost is $5.

Veterans Memorial Ice Arena: Puck stoppers goalie jamboree
Join us Thursday, May 1 from 7:15-8:30 p.m. for a unique 5 versus 5 hockey game featuring goalies only! All participants will skate in full goalie equipment for three 15-minute runtime periods. Ages 18 and older are eligible to participate. Cost is $10. There will be a maximum of 30 goalies and registration will close when capacity is reached. To sign up call 734.794.6235 or email vetspark@a2gov.org.

Kempf House Wednesday Noon Lecture on April 30: Food in the Gilded Age Helen Zoe Veit will talk about the fascinating subject of food from the late 1870s to the early 1900s, a time defined by extremes of wealth and want, and how those extremes played out dramatically in the ways Americans ate. Admission free, donations appreciated, 312 S. Division St, 734.994.4898. For more information go online. Questions? email kempfhousemuseum@gmail.com .

Volunteers needed: Huron River Day We're currently seeking volunteers — individuals and groups alike — to assist with a variety of tasks on the day of the event. Opportunities include guiding parking, staffing the event, helping at the bike corral and more. Click here to see the available tasks and shifts to help make this popular festival a success!

Important: Stormwater improvement project update The City of Ann Arbor would like to share that AMTRAK, the national passenger rail service, will be performing culvert maintenance at the downstream end of Newport Creek, near where it flows through Barton Nature Area adjacent to Barton Pond. Maintenance vehicles will be located along the railroad right-of-way, with some vehicles possibly parked along Huron River Drive. This project is strictly for stormwater improvement to help enhance upstream flow conditions for Newport Creek. It is not related to any preconstruction or preparation work for fencing along the railroad corridor. Work is scheduled to begin in early May, weather permitting, and is expected to be completed in just a few days. Minimal to no impact on nearby residents is anticipated. For any questions, please contact the City of Ann Arbor Water Quality Manager Jennifer Lawson, jlawson@a2gov.org.

Green spaces, happy places: Spring park preparation update
Spring has arrived, and our parks staff has been working diligently to prepare green spaces across the city for the season’s first mow. With more than 160 parks to care for, it may take some time for every location to reach its peak summer appearance. If your favorite park looks a little behind schedule, rest assured — it has not been forgotten. Our crews are making their way through all necessary tasks to ensure every park can be enjoyed at its best. Thank you for your patience as we work to keep our green spaces happy places for everyone.

Join an upcoming public engagement session on the A2 Comprehensive Land Use Plan Draft The draft of the Ann Arbor Comprehensive Land Use Plan is now available for public review on the city’s new project platform, Engage Ann Arbor (EA2), at plan.a2gov.org/plan24. The platform includes the draft plan, project timeline and materials from past meetings. Community members are invited to learn about the draft plan and share feedback during an upcoming engagement session with city planning staff.  Wednesday, April 30, 3–7 p.m. at the Mallets Creek Library (3090 E. Eisenhower Parkway) Wednesday, May 7, 3–7 p.m. at the Traverwood Library (3333 Traverwood Drive) These sessions offer an opportunity to ask questions, review the draft and help shape the future of land use in Ann Arbor. All are welcome.