We're hiring in the Ann Arbor parks

Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation is looking for day camp counselors at Buhr Park, Fuller Park and Argo Park Livery. Spend your summer outdoors leading activities, working with kids and helping create a fun camp experience. Apply here.

Eat and shop local at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market On Saturday, March 28 the Ann Arbor Farmers Market will be open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at 315 Detroit St. to bring you all the local goods you need. Just a note: summer hours (7 a.m.-3 p.m.) will begin at the start of May and Wednesday market will return on May 6. We will have plentiful produce, artisan goods, jams and honey, protein options, warm drinks, decorative plants and flowers, prepared food from Samosa House and Rite Spice, University of Michigan students taking donations for the Maize and Blue Cupboard and more! In-season, locally grown produce that you can find at the market this time of year includes the following: mushrooms, lettuce, apples, kale, chard, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, onions, garlic, beets, winter squash, salad greens and more! Asparagus is on its way slowly but surely. Vendors 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.

Register for private swim lessons Mack Indoor Pool has a variety of sessions open for private swim lessons for all ages and skill levels. To learn more go online. NOTE: Mack Pool will be closed for the day on Sunday, April 5. Thank you for understanding.

Put a little spring in your step — Park hop with Hopps the Bunny Have your picture taken with Hopps the Bunny and make a craft at the following parks from 10-11 a.m.  March 30, Sugarbush March 31, Olson April 1, Bandemer April 2, Allmendinger April 3, Sylvan These events are free and lead up to the new Hop, Skip, Spring event April 4 that requires registration to participate.

Get ready to paws and play Join us for a tail-wagging good time at the pop-up dog park at Veterans Memorial Park (Ballfield #4). Free, Friday, April 10, 4-6 p.m. We’ve got plenty to get your pup’s tail wagging — pup cups from Washtenaw Dairy, a dog bandana decorating station, tennis balls galore and a few paws-itively fun surprises still up our sleeve. Bring your furry best friend and come sniff out the fun! To learn more about the dog parks in Ann Arbor go online.

Nature programming for April - save the dates

Sign up here for the following programs in April! Questions? Email epotter@a2gov.org

Outside Story Time Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 Join us for stories, crafts and outdoor play for children ages 2-6 with an adult.
April 7, Turtles, Allmendinger Park Playground
April 14, Snakes, Foxfire North Park Playground
April 21, Frogs and Toads, Bader Park Playground
April 28, Salamanders, Esch Park Playground

Toddler Move and Grove, Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. for children ages 0-5. 
April 8, Allmendinger Park Playground
April 15, Foxfire North Park Playground
April 22, Bader Park Playground
April 29, Esch Park Playground

K-5 classes:
Build a Bird Nest, Thursday April 2, 1-2:30 p.m., Gallup Park Meeting Room. Let's learn about the different type of nests that birds make and create one to take home! We will also spend time outside looking for nests. For K-5 students and an adult. Questions? Email epotter@a2gov.org

Nature Crafts, Mondays 4:30-5:30 p.m. for students K-5 with an adult
April 6, Cloud Identification, Allmendinger Park.
April 13, Natural Dyes, Foxfire North Park
April 20, Tree Bark and Buds, Bader Park
April 27, Nature Art, Esch Park

April adult events:
Adult Art and Nature, Thursday, April 23, 5-7 p.m. Get to know local ducks, swans and geese by creating their portrait with Pan Pastels. We'll also look for waterfowl migrating through the area. No experience needed, all materials provided. Meet at the Gallup Park Meeting Room at 3000 Fuller Road. Questions? email epotter@a2gov.org

Women's Signs of Spring Walk, Tuesday, April 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Furstenberg Nature Area. Let's learn which frogs live in our parks and try to identify them by their calls. One mile hike on a dirt trail. Dress for the weather with sturdy shoes. Meet at the Furstenberg Nature Area parking lot at 2626 Fuller Road. Questions? email epotter@a2gov.org

Nature Nerds Book Club. Thursday April 30, 5:30-6:30 p.m. April is National Poetry month, to celebrate pick your favorite poem from Aimee Nezhukumatathil's World of Wonders or bring a favorite nature poem to share. We will be meeting at the Natural Area Preservation Office at 3875 E Huron River Drive. We will sit outside weather permitting. Questions? Email epotter@a2gov.org

2026 Summer Camps: Registration opens Wednesday, April 8
Get ready for a summer of splashing, paddling, exploring and nonstop outdoor fun. Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation camps are back, offering unforgettable experiences for kids ages 5–14. Registration opens Wednesday, April 8, at 8 a.m., and spots fill quickly. Camps run Monday through Friday with full-day schedules throughout the summer. To learn more about each camp including themed weeks visit www.a2gov.org/camps

River Camps (Ages 8-14): At Gallup and Argo parks, campers take on the Huron River through kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, tubing and fishing. Gallup River Camp (ages 8–11) introduces river adventures, while Argo River Camp (ages 12–14) offers more advanced exploration.

Buhr Park Day Camp (Ages 5-12): Each week brings new themes, hands-on activities, group games and daily swimming. Campers build friendships and confidence while enjoying a structured, supportive environment.

Fuller Park Day Camp (Ages 5-12): A fully outdoor experience packed with pool time, water activities, games and crafts. Campers also receive basic swim instruction and enjoy fresh weekly themes.

Huron Hills Junior Golf Camps: Camps begin mid-June for juniors ages 8-15 years old. Golfers of all abilities will have fun learning the game of golf, including the fundamentals and sportsmanship. Two hours daily, Monday-Thursday, for two weeks. Camp fee: $190. Register here beginning April 8..

Create a new CivicRec account (https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog) OR log into your existing account now to check that your personal information is correct and that you have a payment method loaded to make registration more efficient. Call Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Customer Service for assistance updating your account 734.794.6230 ext. 0.

Register early to secure your spot starting Wednesday, April 8, https://url.a2gov.org/A2DayCamps

Your input is important - share feedback on the dog parks In response to demand for an additional dog park on the City’s west side, Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation has been piloting a pop-up dog park at Veterans Memorial Park Field #4 and collecting feedback from residents and park users. To provide feedback, please take a moment to complete the community survey here.

Volunteer opportunities galore in the parks this spring
• Saturday, April 4, 8 a.m.-noon, Hop, Skip, Spring! Volunteer at Gallup Park – Help bring a fun spring activity to life at Gallup Park! Volunteers will dress as woodland animals and host simple activity stations along the Gallup Park loop for families participating in Hop, Skip, Spring! or help support the event by assisting with setup, crafts, participant flow, and other event needs throughout the morning. Register here.

• Thursday, April 9, 10 a.m.-noon at Allmendinger Park: Join us for Love a Park Volunteer Workday as part of our Park Spotlight week at Allmendinger Park! Give back to your local park while being part of a week-long celebration of family-friendly activities and community connection. We’ll tackle a variety of projects to help care for this popular and well-loved community space. Register here.

• Saturday, April 11, 1-4 p.m. at Mary Beth Doyle: Help restore Mary Beth Doyle Park's natural areas by cutting invasive shrubs with hand saws and loppers! Create space for native plants to thrive and support a healthier ecosystem in one of Ann Arbor’s most beloved nature areas. Register here.

• Sunday, April 19, Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival Volunteer at Leslie Science & Nature Center: Join us to support the annual Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival! Volunteers play a key role in making this event a success, including helping visitors find their way, supporting hands-on activities like paper-making, and promoting zero-waste practices. Explore and register for all shifts and volunteer roles here.

• Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.  A Walk in the Park: Costume Parade Volunteer at Mary Beth Doyle Park: Help create a fun and festive costume parade experience for young children and families at Mary Beth Doyle Park! Volunteers will help run activity and treat stations around the park loop during this playful spring event. Register here.

Programming at the Ann Arbor Senior Center

Educational workshop: Learning in retirement with Elderwise
Monday, March 30, 11 a.m.- noon. Join Elderwise Learning for this casual educational presentation on learning in retirement! Learn about the importance of lifelong learning; the different types of classes offered; and ways to get involved with lifelong learning. Elderwise is a nonprofit, independent, lifelong learning organization dedicated to offering continuing education to learners of all ages. Preregistration required. Click here or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Travels With George: Journeys to New Zealand and Los Angeles (and Somehow Back Again)
Thursday, April 2, 1:30-4 p.m. Join us on a travelogue with host George Jabol! This travelogue, hosted by George Jabol, is about a journey to other-worldly places. Our first stop lasts four nights for visits to Los Angeles and its suburb, Hollywood, where fantasy rules. At Universal Studios we’ll encounter Beetlejuice and the Death mobile from the movie Animal House. Then we’ll go to the bottom of our planet for a ten-day cruise around New Zealand’s North and South Islands. Open to all ages 18+. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge. 

Beginner birding series
First Mondays, April 6-Oct. 5, 9-10 a.m. Join parks staff as we explore different parks and learn about the birds that live within them. We will focus on topics such as migration, bird songs, nesting behavior, and more! Binoculars are provided. This series will have a mix of dirt and paved trails, and we will go on a slow stroll for about a mile. Bring adequate shoes/clothes, a water bottle, and anything else you may need for a hike! Walk dates and locations include: April 6: Island Park; May 4: Barton Nature Area; June 1: Forest Nature Area; July 6: Mary Beth Doyle Park; Aug. 3: Eberwhite Woods; Aug. 31: Ruthven Nature Area; Oct. 5: Gallup Park. Preregistration required for each walk. Click walk dates to register or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge. 

WCC Senior Focus Classes: Summer 2026 registration opens April 13
Senior Focus classes are offered in partnership with Washtenaw Community College for adults 65+ that live in Washtenaw County. Classes are free of charge. The spring/summer class schedule is available online at www.a2gov.org/senior. This semesters classes include Tai Chi (All Levels); Tai Chi Intermediate; Line Dancing; Watercolor; Beginning to Advanced Fiber Arts; Yoga Therapy for Seniors; Strength & Conditioning. Preregistration required. Space is limited. Please read carefully: Registrations will not be taken prior to 9 a.m. on Monday, April 13. Class descriptions are located further down in the newsletter. Please refer to the website for more information.

Dog Park Updates: Olson and Broadway
Two Ann Arbor dog parks will see temporary closures as improvement work continues this April.

Olson Dog Park will be closed for a short period beginning the week of April 6 while crews complete restoration work inside the park. Improvements include removing sections of gravel and replacing them with soil, grass seed and clover to create a greener, more comfortable surface for dogs and their owners. The park is expected to be closed for two to three days, approximately April 6–8.

Broadway Dog Park remains closed due to weather-related construction delays. Contractors are expected to wrap up installation and repair work this week. Next week will focus on system testing, with restoration work potentially beginning as early as Thursday, weather permitting. The park is anticipated to remain closed through next week.

We appreciate your patience as these improvements are completed to enhance the dog park experience.

Upcoming Liberty Plaza Improvements Project Accessibility and placemaking improvements are being made at Liberty Plaza as a partnership between the City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Services Unit and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). Phase One, completed in 2025, included the installation of murals throughout the plaza walls. Phase Two focuses on overall site and accessibility improvements. Work to be done includes replacement of site furnishings and handrails as well as new perennial landscaping throughout. Due to work taking place, Liberty Plaza will be closed starting at the beginning of April and will reopen the first week of June, in time for Sonic Lunch on Thursday, June 4. More information on this project can be found online.

DELAYED start to closure
The Gallup Park pathway that crosses the railroad track south of the Gallup Vehicle Bridge will now be closed from Saturday, April 11 through Sunday, April 19 (weather permitting) for track maintenance.

The Michigan Department of Transportation has coordinated this work to minimize disruption, including timing considerations around school schedules for those accessing Huron High School. Detour signage will be in place to route pedestrians around the closure area. Thank you for your patience while this maintenance is underway.

Wednesday noon lectures at the Kempf House April 1: Fire and ice! -- Iceland is a place that George Jabol will include in his talk about how his love of travel worldwide began and how it developed into a hobby, presenting travelogues of his trips, including fabulous Iceland. April 8: Teacher and author Susan Nenadic presents Crime and Punishment: Michigan’s Criminal Past. Not only was it the first state to ban the death penalty, Michigan gained fame for its enlightened treatment of young people, first time offenders, and women.  Michigan considered punishment vs reform and chose the latter. April 15: Margaret Leary, Librarian Emerita of the University of Michigan Law School and community volunteer, talks about about William W. Cook, who provided money and architects for the Martha Cook Building and the entire Cook Law Quadrangle. He and Harry Hutchins showed that the University could not be the equal of private schools like Columbia, Yale and Harvard without large financial support from U of M's vast alumni body.  April 22: John Hilton, the long-time editor of the Ann Arbor Observer, has recently retired and he's coming to the Kempf House to talk about his work there. Kempf House Museum is located at 312 S. Division St, 734.994.4898. Parking available in the Library Lot and underground structure a half-block south of the museum. Admission is free but donations are appreciated. Questions? Email  kempfhousemuseum@gmail.com