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Snowpocalypse has come and gone, but we live in Michigan where the winter isn’t too kind to us. Let’s pretend that we are having a “heatwave” the next few days. By “heatwave,” of course I mean it’s supposed to be upwards of 25 degrees (oh joy), but perhaps with some more snow. I am not a big fan of snow (okay that is an understatement), but one thing I do enjoy in the snow is sledding. It is always a blast! Now that you should be able to avoid frostbite for more than ten minutes at a time, this weekend may be a good time to hit the hills.
We have a lot of great sledding hills in Metro Detroit. If you’re looking for some fun with the family, or with a group of friends, then some of these soon to be mentioned hills may be the spot for you. Just remember to be careful and be patient while sledding in order to avoid injuries.
Middlebelt Hill (Westland): Growing up in the Wayne-Westland area, Middlebelt Hill was a staple of my childhood sledding endeavors. I haven’t been in a while, but it was always a blast. It also made the list of “99 Things to do in Wayne County.” Convenience is at your disposal here as stairs are provided to make getting up the hill easier. Bring your sleds, toboggans, tubes and perhaps even your camera and prepare for a fun-filled day in the snow.
Beverly Hills Village Park (Franklin): The area here is huge and open for multiple people to sled at the same time. Not to be outdone by Middlebelt Hill, the sledding hill at Beverly Hills Village Park also provides stairs and walkways on the north side and south side of the hill. This park is a great place to take the family as it hosts winter events. Enjoy sledding, skating, curling and more. This is one of Oakland’s County’s best parks.
Civic Center Park (Madison Heights): Located on 13 Mile Road just west of John R Street. Sledding at Civic Center Park is a favorite for the Madison Heights and surrounding neighborhoods faithful. It has one large hill and one small hill so there is fun to be had for all levels of adventure-seekers. The large sled hill is very wide across the top, so it can easily accommodate a large group of sledders and it is also very close to the parking lot. Its only downfall is that it does not have stairs or a walkway to get up the hill. So be ready to trek back up said hill!
Rolling Hills Park (Ypsilanti): Where do I begin with this one? Well for starters the hill is 275 feet in length and 70 feet wide at the top. The hill drops down into a nice flat surface for you. It also has a fenced walking path to get back up the hill, so your worries about being taken out by oncoming traffic should be no more. If you’ve never been to this park I highly recommend it. It is a beautiful park with a lot of different winter activities. Don’t forget to come to the water park here in the summer as well!
Marshbank Park (West Bloomfield): This park is very nice and was recently renovated in 2010. The sledding hill was added in then, so you don’t have to worry about too much wear and tear on this terrain. It also offers three different shelters/pavilions. On Saturday, Feb. 8 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. you can also attend the park’s third annual Winterfest. Activities include ice sculptures (with ice carvers giving demonstrations), family cardboard sled races, timed sled sprints, a family snowman building contest and much more. Sounds like a bundle of fun!
Remember to watch out for oncoming sledders, don’t try anything too dangerous and overall have fun. Happy sledding!
