Get out and about this weekend in the Ann Arbor parks

Shop local every Wednesday and Saturday at the A2 Market On Saturday, July 19 and Wednesday, July 23 the Ann Arbor Farmers Market will be open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. at 315 Detroit St. Sweet corn is here! Along with melons, peaches, plums, apricots, new potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, kale, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, peas, beans, garlic and onions in addition to blueberries, raspberries, cherries, annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, vegetable and herb seedlings, native plants, fresh greens, mushrooms, cut flowers, root vegetables, houseplants, honey, eggs, pastured meat and poultry, fish, cheese, bread, pastries, allergen free baked goods, chocolate, spices, jam, sauerkraut, pickles, beverages, prepared food, jewelry, candles, body care products, art 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. Service animals only. Accessible restrooms are available. More information at our website. * Saturday, July 19, Pilar's Tamales, Baan Phad Thai, Rite Spice and Samosa House will be serving lunch and there will be live music performed by Mark Schantz in addition to Stephen Castiglione and Noah Gibbs at 10 a.m. * Wednesday, July 23, TRU Pizza Truck will be serving lunch. The City of Ann Arbor Stormwater Outreach, 3rd Act and VEG Michigan booths will be attending. Molly Kober will be performing live music at 11 a.m.

Volunteer in the Ann Arbor parks
Check out the Ann Arbor Parks Volunteer Program website to see or register for all upcoming volunteer events. All experience levels are welcome. All tools and supplies are provided at events. Just dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes and bring water. Visit the links below for event details and to sign up.

Gallup River Cleanup - Wednesday, July 23 Very few spots!
Sign up to help clean up the Huron River! We will be meeting at the Gallup Canoe Livery and partnering in canoes to clean up the area of the river known as Gallup Pond. This is open to individuals and small groups. Register here.

Ruthven Nature Area Stewardship Workday - Sunday, July 27
Spend a summer morning caring for Ruthven Nature Area, a unique mix of prairie and woodlands in the heart of Ann Arbor. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants to protect native biodiversity! Register here.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to volunteer@a2gov.org with any questions about volunteer opportunities in the parks.

Ann Arbor Senior Center: Learn to register for senior center classes through the website
Thursday, July 24, 10-11 a.m. Tired of having to call the Ann Arbor Senior Center to register for a program?  Join senior center staff for a presentation on how to register for classes; browse the catalog; create a new account; find out what your registered for and answer questions. Feel free to bring your computer or mobile device to work along with the presentation. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Lunch & Learn: Estate planning
Wednesday, Aug. 20, noon-1 p.m. Join Lockwood of Ann Arbor for this informative and engaging presentation. An elder law attorney will talk on the importance of having your estate paperwork up to date. Light lunch provided. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here to register or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Animals of Ann Arbor workshops
Thursdays, Aug. 28-Sept. 18, 1-3 p.m. Come learn which creatures call Ann Arbor home! We’ll celebrate our biodiversity by learning from City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation field biologists and will go out into the park to try to find the animals in the wild. Expect a mile walk on a flat, dirt path or a boardwalk. Dress for the weather in comfortable shoes. Binoculars provided. Water and restrooms are available. Classes include:

Aug. 28: Butterflies with Becky Hand

Sept. 4: Turtles and Frogs with George Hammond

Sept. 11: Mammals with Eleva Potter

Sept. 18: Birds with Juliet Berger

Classes meet at the Gallup Canoe Livery Meeting Room, 3000 Fuller Rd. (first building on left upon entering Gallup Park). Free parking: it is recommended to come early to find a spot. Open to ages 18+. Preregistration required. Sign up for each class separately by clicking the link of each class date or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Mindful Movement
Wednesdays, Sept. 3-24, 10-11 a.m. Join Environmental Educator Eleva Potter of The City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation on Wednesday mornings to slow down and pay attention to our senses in nature. We’ll practice different grounding techniques focused on mindfulness and stress reduction. Expect to be outside the whole time unless it’s raining. May involve a short walk on a dirt trail with some standing and sitting. Meet at the picnic tables outside of the Burns Park Shelter (across the park from the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave.). No experience necessary. Preregistration required. Click here to register or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge. 

DTE Energy smart seniors presentation
Friday, Sept. 12, 10-11:30 a.m. Join DTE Community in Action: Energy Smart Seniors Program to learn easy, low cost ways to use less energy which will save you money on your energy bill. We'll also cover tips to be safe with natural gas, and additional energy efficiency and assistance programs. Participants will receive a FREE kit with contents to save money and energy in your home. Some of the contents may include LED nightlights, pipe insulation, bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators, efficient showerhead, window insulation kit and weather-stripping. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here to register or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

NEW: Meet Your Parks in partnership with the Ann Arbor District Library Environmental Educator Eleva Potter has started a new series monthly called "Meet Your Parks" in partnership with the Ann Arbor District Library. The last walk took place around Olson Pond and participants of all ages used nets to dip for aquatic animals like snails, minnows and dragonfly nymphs. The next walk is Saturday, Aug. 9, 10-11:30 a.m. at Cedar Bend Nature Area (1495 Cedar Bend Drive). These programs are free of charge - we hope to see you there.

Learn to swim: Group and private lessons available
You can now register for session 2 that runs from July 22-Aug. 11 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at both Buhr and Veterans Memorial Park pools. These lessons focus on building water safety, basic swimming techniques and confidence in the water for all ages and skill levels.

Private lessons
You an also register for private one-on-one swim lessons at the pools. Visit the website to see location and session information. Individual swim instruction is for swimmers ages 3 to adult, each private lesson is 30-minutes long and customized to meet the needs of the swimming participant. Private lessons are for one participant only. Fee: Half hour $22 resident; $30 nonresident.

Swim more, save more with a pool punch pass
Looking for a great deal on swimming? Ann Arbor’s Pool Punch Pass offers flexible, year-round access to Buhr, Fuller, Mack and Veterans Memorial Park pools. Passes are valid for open and lap swim — just one punch per person, per visit.

* 10 punches: $40
* 25 punches: $100
* 50 punches: $187.50
* 100 punches: $350

Punch passes are valid for one year from the date of purchase. Please note: passes are non-refundable and do not apply to master's swim. Start swimming today — buy your pass here.

DTE Energy Smart Seniors Presentation
Friday, Sept. 12, 10-11:30 a.m. Join DTE Community in Action: Energy Smart Seniors Program to learn easy, low cost ways to use less energy which will save you money on your energy bill. We'll also cover tips to be safe with natural gas, and additional energy efficiency and assistance programs. Participants will receive a FREE kit with contents to save money and energy in your home. Some of the contents may include LED nightlights, pipe insulation, bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators, efficient showerhead, window insulation kit, and weather-stripping. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here to register or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

NEW at Veterans Memorial Park
Did you know you can rent a pickleball net from us? We have new nets if you would like to play onsite (courts are first come, first serve) or take it with you for special events/parties. Call 734.794.6235 for details or stop by the front counter, 2150 Jackson Ave.

Important mowing update:
The goal of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation maintenance staff is to have each park mowed every 14 days. However, this schedule can be delayed by weather or equipment malfunction. Unfortunately, we are currently having issues with one of the mowers that may impact/delay the mowing schedule. We are working as swiftly as possible to get the parks mowed and back to the regular 14-day schedule.  Thank you for your understanding.