A busy weekend in the Ann Arbor Parks

Splash pad construction begins this week
Exciting changes are coming to Bicentennial Park on the southeast side of Ann Arbor, and signs of construction are starting this week! One of those exciting updates will bring the first universal-access splash pad to the city. Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation is also thanking the generous sponsors making this project possible and providing community members ways they, too, can contribute or honor a loved one with a donation. In addition, parkgoers are urged to follow posted safety signage restricting access during construction. Learn more here.

Improve your swimming skills Take your swimming to the next level with private lessons featuring customized instruction and flexible scheduling to fit your busy lifestyle. Buhr, Fuller and Veterans Memorial Park pools also offer group lessons for all ages and skill levels. Go online to view the programs and sign up today.

Fresh food, flowers, artisans goods and more! On Saturday, July 26 and Wednesday, July 30 the Ann Arbor Farmers Market will be open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. at 315 Detroit St. Okra, bell peppers, eggplant, and melons are now in season! More varieties of peaches are available too along with blueberries, cherries, raspberries, plums, apricots, potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, kale, lettuce, chard, tomatoes, hot and mild peppers, peas, beans, garlic and onions, 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 26, Pilar's Tamales, Baan Phad Thai and Samosa House will be serving lunch and there will be live music performed by Isaac Roughton at 11 a.m. followed by Irene Wang and Summer Su of SEMA Duo. * Wednesday, July 30, Fork in Nigeria Food Truck will be serving lunch and there will be live music performed by Stephen Castiglione and Noah Gibbs at 11 a.m.

Volunteer in the Ann Arbor parks Check out the Ann Arbor Parks Volunteer Program website on VolunteerHub to see and register for all upcoming volunteer events. All experience levels are welcome and we provide the tools/supplies. Please dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes and bring water. Visit the links below for event details and to sign up! 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. Garden Workday at Fuller Park - Monday, Aug. 4 Join us to help spruce up the garden beds in Fuller Park and at Fuller Park Pool. Volunteers will pull weeds and possibly pick up litter. Register here. Don’t hesitate to reach out to volunteer@a2gov.org with any questions about volunteer opportunities in the parks.

NEW Environmental education classes in the parks
K-5 Forest Friday: Summer Birds. Friday, Aug 1, 4-5 .pm. at Bird Hills Nature Area. Join us to look for summer birds including Pileated Woodpeckers and Summer Tanagers. We'll go on a one-mile hike )(path is unpaved/hilly) to view our feathered friends. Binoculars provided. The entire program will be outdoors. Restrooms and water not available. Please dress for the weather which includes sturdy shoes. For K-5 students and an adult. Meet at the Bird Hills parking lot at 1850 Newport Road. Free of charge but preregistration is required. Sign up here. Questions? Email epotter@a2gov.org. 

Outdoor Story Hour. Tuesday, Aug 12, 10-11 a.m. at the Gallup Park Livery (3000 Fuller Road) playground. We will be learning all about squirrels and what they're doing this fall to prepare for winter. For children ages 2-5 years old with an adult. Meet at the playground across the sidewalk from the canoe livery. Please be prepared to be outside in all weather and bring something to sit on. Bathrooms are available at this park. Questions email epotter@a2gov.org Preregister here.

Sign up for these awesome river programs Each class below requires preregistration. Go online for additional information and to sign up. Gallup Livery Kayaking for Seniors/Session 3 Tuesdays, July 30 and Aug. 6, 9–11 a.m. Ages 50 and up can enjoy guided kayaking on the Huron River with trained staff. Equipment, instruction and adaptive support provided. Cost: $65/person for two sessions. Argo Livery Kayaking Instruction – level 3 Sunday, Aug. 11, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Build on your basics with this advanced course covering river hazards and rescue techniques. Includes a paddle through the Class II Argo Cascades. For ages 13 and up. Cost: $45/person. Gallup Livery River Kids Tuesday and Thursday mornings in August, 10–11:30 a.m. Young children and caregivers explore the river by boat, fish off the dock and discover critters through art and play. Four-week sessions. Ages: 2–7 (with caregiver).

Ann Arbor Senior Center programming
Sports ‘N Sorts
Mondays, Aug. 11-25, 10 – 11 a.m. Come on down and get your game on! Coach Noah Trobe is here to teach you about numerous athletic activities. Join Noah for a different theme each week as he will provide education and allow time to discuss other current events in sports. You don’t have to be a sports expert to join - Coach Trobe wants to turn every rookie into a pro! Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here to register or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Painless Poetry 2.0
Tuesdays, Aug. 12-Sept. 2, 10-11:30 a.m. Poetry can be a lot of fun! We’ll continue to explore writing exercises to free your mind to new ways of writing poetry and introduce you to modes of using language to forge fresh writing pathways. We will discuss works by contemporary poets and hear poetry read by local poets. Class is led by Michael Myers, a Michigan native, poet, educator, and photographer. He has taught classes in writing and photography locally since 2003. He has presented his work at many poetry venues including Nikki’s All Night Cafe, Crazy Wisdom Writers Series and the Ann Arbor Poetry Slam. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here to register or call 734.794.6250. Free for members; $5, nonmembers. 

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. 

Intro to Basketry
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 9 a.m.-noon. Come learn about a wide range of plants that can be allies in basket weaving, including many plants that are likely not far from your own doorstep! Tension trays/Catalan trays are a wonderful introduction into the world of wild basketry. In this workshop, we will learn simple ways you can tell if any kind of plant around you can be used in wicker basketry. We’ll learn different ways to process plants for weaving, and you will make your own multipurpose woven tray that can be used as a platter, herb dryer, a simple decoration, or even adapted into a full basket. You’ll also leave with the knowledge of how to make many more such trays on your own. All weaving abilities welcomed. The class is instructed by Michael Marie, a land steward and basket weaver based in Dexter. You can find more about their work at Hickory Nut Farmstead here. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here to register or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge. 

Contribute to CAN’s Back-to-School supplies drive
Community Action Network (CAN) partners with children and families from under-resourced Washtenaw County neighborhoods to create better futures for themselves and improve the communities in which they live. Back-to-school can bring big expenses, and some families must choose between buying school supplies or paying for basic necessities like food and rent. CAN is rallying the community to help ensure all students are prepared for the start of the school year with the annual Back to School Drive.

There are three ways to help CAN provide local students with backpacks and school supplies:

1) Make a monetary donation in any amount online.

2) Shop CAN's Amazon list

3) Pickup any of the preferred supplies and drop off at the Senior Center.

Items in need are: Supplies such as backpacks (all ages), pencils (pouches, sharpeners), pens, highlighters, markers, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, glue sticks, lined paper, notebooks, composition books, binders (dividers, folders), index cards, scissors, paper towel, locker accessories, lunch boxes, calculators (scientific or regular), reusable water bottles, pencil pouches or boxes. Backpacks and supplies are needed by Friday, Aug. 15.