July is a beautiful time in not just Michigan, but here in Canton, as well. Not only are there many fun things to do on your own or with family in our lovely township, but July is also National Park and Recreation Month.
According to the National Recreation and Park Association, “Since 1985, people in the United States have celebrated Parks and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation and to recognize the more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation professionals—along with the hundreds of thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers—that maintain our country’s local, state, and community parks.”
Each year, a new theme is highlighted, and the 2023 theme is “Where Community Grows.” In Canton, the idea that community grows with the use of our amazing parks and recreation system is front and center. There are so many great ways to get involved with our parks and recreation departments and programs including visiting parks and the Summit, attending events, and being out and about in all of our township’s beautiful spaces.
How can you celebrate parks and recreation in Canton? Here are four ideas for this summer.
Visit a Park
One place to stop for all the great updates on new and recurring events is the Canton Township Leisure Services Parks webpage. Here, the township lists updates going on within different parks, where parks are located, instructions for renting pavilions, dog parks, walking and biking routes, and schedules for events happening in the area.
Take Part in an Event
There are always great events coming up in Canton, and this summer is not going to be any different. Here are some great activities you can check out to help get you get out and about during National Park and Recreation Month.
Canton Summer Concert Series – This wonderful series goes all summer long with family-friendly concerts that will get you up out of your chair and dancing the day or night away. The concerts are all free and located in Heritage Park. There are two series—Tuesdays are Terrific specializes in family music and entertainment, and the Thursday Night Concert Series has three food vendors on site starting at 6:30 PM and focuses on Motown, oldies, and other pop and rock classics.
Visit the Farmers Market
Canton Farmers Market – Come wander about the Farmers Market on Sunday mornings during the summer from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. It is a great place to buy some locally grown veggies, fruits, visit crafters, and even get the chance to enjoy storytime with your favorite CPL librarians who will make an appearance on many Sundays throughout the summer. The market is open rain or shine, and there is always something interesting to see in Preservation Park, where it is located.
Visit the Library
Canton Public Library – This summer we will once again feature our 62 Days of Summer program filled with activities, reading and events. Be sure to spend time at Wings of Wonder Storytime in our flower-filled Butterfly Garden. After coming to one of our fun events, take a short walk through Heritage Park and enjoy their flowers, trees, pond and ducks.
Want to explore more parks and recreation opportunities outside of Canton? Be sure to check out a Michigan Activity Pass to visit the many state parks, recreation areas and Metroparks in Michigan for free or a reduced price. There is more to discover!
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