I WEST

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BLOOMFIELD 1

FUN IN THE S N

West Bloomfield parks offer many opportunities for summer pleasure.

Bloomfield
est
boasts many parks
and nature trails for.
recreation. According to the
West Bloomfield Parks and
Recreation Commission there
are 400 acres of preserved
public land in West Bloom-
field. Much of this land has
been acquired within the last
eight years.
The following parks are
open from 8 a.m. until
sunset: Bloomer Park,
Bloomfield Knolls Park, the
Civic Center Site, the
Community Sports parks,
Grand Trunk Railroad, Mar-
shbank Park, Sylvan Manor
park and West Bloomfield
Woods Nature Preserve.
Bloomer Park, a 36-acre
site on Richardson Road east
of Haggerty Road, features
picnic tables, grills, fitness

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WB-26

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1990

course, nature trail and a '
boat launch to Middle
Straits Lake.
Bloomfield Knolls Park is
a two-acre neighborhood park
on Henbert Road north of
Greer Road with a picnic
area, play equipment and a
basketball court.
The Civic Center Site is a
99-acre site on Walnut Lake
Road west of Orchard Lake
Rd. In addition to the park,
this area is the home of the
West Bloomfield Township
Hall, West Bloomfield
Township Main Library and
West Bloomfield Police. This
site features the Meadow
Haven Nature Trail and
Snow Gulch Winter Recrea-
tion Site.
The Meadow Haven Na-
ture Trail is a woodchipped
trail network that makes a 1

1/4 mile loop around the 99-
acre West Bloomfield Civic
Center. Once a parcel of
farm land, much of what re-
mains reflects the natural
state. Fox wander through
the trails at night, hunting

Much of this
land has been
acqui red
within the last
eight years.

for food. Frogs croak in
breeding ponds, while sea-
sonal plants, like purple
loosestrife, arrowroot and
trillium flourish and line the
trail.

The Community Sports
Park, a 15-acre site on Keith
Road north of Commerce
Road, features three top-
quality softball fields, a
soccer field, tennis courts,
children's play area and con-
cession/restroom building.
Grand Trunk Railroad
Right-Of-Way is a 4.25 lin-
ear park that stretches from
Arrowhead Road to the
border of Sylvan Lake. It is a
perfect site for nature walks.
Marshbank Park is a 108-
acre park on Hiller Raod
north of Commerce Road.
The grounds are perfect for
family gatherings. The park
has picnic areas, grills, play
equipment, ball diamonds
and restrooms. The picnic
shelter is available on a ren-
tal basis.
Sylvan Manor Park is on

Woodrow Wilson. This three
acre neighborhood park has
a picnic area, play equip-
ment, baseball diamond and
basketball court.
West Bloomfield Woods
Nature Preserve is a 162-
acre natural site which
borders the Grand Trunk
Railroad Right-Of-Way to
create an extensive trail.
The wooded preserve
features natural wildlife and
flowers.
The West Bloomfield Parks
and Recreation Department
is working with citizens to
preserve and develop the
parks. The international
1990 Macabbi Games, which
will be held in August in
West Bloomfield, will hold
several of its outdoor com-
petitions at the community
sports park. ❑

