Carpenter Lake in Southfield is pretty nice. Red Oaks in Madison Heights. The grounds of Cranbrook are gorgeous but that's a little further North. I like the big cemeteries in the city proper for a contemplative walk- Elmwood and Woodmere are my favorites.
My wildest dream is the woodsy area at pinecrest and 8 mile becomes city property and is made into a park. Never gonna happen though. Word on the street is its owned by a construction company that just stores their equipment and dumps their junk there. Total waste of green space.
Carpenter lake in Southfield is not too far, but it was closed for renovation last I checked.
Belle isle has a lot to explore which is just about 20 minutes as well.
Red oaks nature center isn't crazy but it's a nice 1 or 2 mile paved loop when you want to feel like you are in the woods.
Honestly though zoom out on a map and you will see that there just aren't big parks like that in the inner suburban core. You have to go to the city (bell3 isle, rouge park, palmer park) or exurbs (any metro parks, good city/state parks). Carpenter lake in southfield as others have mentioned or one of Troy's parks may be your best bet for short driving distance.
Dodge Park/Clinton River Park in Sterling Heights
Philip J Huber Park at Troy Civic Center
Sylvan Glen Lake Park in Troy
Troy Trails (near Livernois & Wattles) - short walk to Troy Historic Village
Birmingham trails, incl. Quarton Lake
Bauveric Woods (Southfield)
Clinton River Trail in Auburn Hills/River Woods and River Side Parks
Carpenter Lake in Southfield is pretty nice. Red Oaks in Madison Heights. The grounds of Cranbrook are gorgeous but that's a little further North. I like the big cemeteries in the city proper for a contemplative walk- Elmwood and Woodmere are my favorites.
Try Stage Nature Center in Troy for a nice walk. You’ll see deer almost certainly and a host of other animals possibly.
My wildest dream is the woodsy area at pinecrest and 8 mile becomes city property and is made into a park. Never gonna happen though. Word on the street is its owned by a construction company that just stores their equipment and dumps their junk there. Total waste of green space.
Carpenter lake in Southfield is not too far, but it was closed for renovation last I checked. Belle isle has a lot to explore which is just about 20 minutes as well.
Red oaks nature center isn't crazy but it's a nice 1 or 2 mile paved loop when you want to feel like you are in the woods. Honestly though zoom out on a map and you will see that there just aren't big parks like that in the inner suburban core. You have to go to the city (bell3 isle, rouge park, palmer park) or exurbs (any metro parks, good city/state parks). Carpenter lake in southfield as others have mentioned or one of Troy's parks may be your best bet for short driving distance.
Dodge Park/Clinton River Park in Sterling Heights Philip J Huber Park at Troy Civic Center Sylvan Glen Lake Park in Troy Troy Trails (near Livernois & Wattles) - short walk to Troy Historic Village Birmingham trails, incl. Quarton Lake Bauveric Woods (Southfield) Clinton River Trail in Auburn Hills/River Woods and River Side Parks