Parks Provide Active Living Activities For All

Amy McMillan, Director, Genesee County Parks (GCP) and Recreation provided an update on all the many activities happening at the parks facilities in the next couple of months.  Genesee County Parks encompasses 11,000 acres and is the largest park system in the State of Michigan.  Amy has been the Director for 11 years and hails from Midland, Michigan.

In addition to the many parks in Genesee County, the GCP also owns and operates Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad, plus For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum.  One of the biggests weekends in the fall of the year is Halloween month at Crossroads Village.  The Halloween event, "Ghosts & Goodies", runs weekends from October 1-31 at Crossroads Village and attracts over 50,000 visitors over the four weekend time frame.  In addition to Halloween, Christmas at Crossroads is another huge event for the facility.  There are wonderful activities during the Christmas holidays (lighting of the big tree, ride on the Huckleberry Railroad, plus lots of other fun events at the various buildings on the grounds).  This year, thanks to a $300,000 grant from the CS Mott Foundation, your ride on the railroad should be a lot smoother.  Monies from the grant have been used to replace the railroad tracks.

Another gem anytime of year, but especially pretty in the fall and winter is For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum.  Hiking and cross-country skiing is a great way to see the preserve.  Thanks again to the generosity of the CS Mott Foundation the pedestrian bridge at the preserve will be replaced.

If you have not visited one of the parks or facilities in recent years you owe it to yourself and your family to check them out.  For more information on upcoming programs and park locations, go to www.geneseecountyparks.org.