parks

July is National Park and Recreation Month, and as Washtenaw County honors its 200th anniversary, its park system—which celebrated its own 50th anniversary in 2023—is showcasing how public spaces serve as vital community infrastructure rather than just places for leisure. Rhonda Bouma is Deputy Director of Operations for the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. She joined Rebekah Warren to talk about what the county's park service has achieved and what it has planned for the future.

Chelsea School District and several nonprofit organizations in the city have received funding from the Chelsea Community Foundation to enrich the quality of life for residents. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

The Ann Arbor City Council has approved a $1.7 million budget to upgrade two parks on the west side of town. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

The South Barton Pedestrian Bridge in Ann Arbor will be replaced with a new bridge. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

County officials worked this year to connect the Border-to-Border (B2B) Trail in Chelsea between North Territorial and Boyce Road and completed the Barton-Bandemer Tunnel in Ann Arbor. They’re now focusing on filling a key piece of the trail for 2026. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

A big crowd was on hand in Ann Arbor Wednesday morning as officials cut the ribbon on the long-awaited Barton-Bandemer Pedestrian Tunnel. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

On November 4, voters will decide between two candidates running for mayor of Milan. Laura Russeau is a longtime advocate and community organizer who ran for Milan City Council two years ago is running against incumbent Mayor Ed Kolar, who is seeking his third two-year term. Russeau joined WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor to talk about her candidacy and the issues that are important to her.

Bikers and hikers lined up on the bridge over the Huron River Friday morning to cut the ribbon and open Ann Arbor’s Broadway Park West. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Ypsilanti officials have been having a difficult time finding green solutions to removing invasive plants from their city parks. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

A large crowd gathered in Pittsfield Township Wednesday evening to officially open a new neighborhood park named after one of its endearing residents. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.