Parks & Recreation Sterling Heights

Aug 6th, 2021

Great park. Has bike paths as well as covered areas to sit. Has firepits with seating all around them. Thursday's have free concerts during the summer with really good bands. They also have a farmer's market on Thursday afternoon with a great variety and usually several places to eat including food trucks. They opened a new splash pad for the kids last summer that is very popular.
May 24th, 2020

Music in the park was a delightful experience. Family friendly as well. Children, parents, grandparents, & pets were all there. A dance floor too if dancing was on the menu.
Apr 29th, 2020

Apr 25th, 2020

Beautiful park at 42700 Utica Road but one staff member made the experience HELL. I had been there with my close friend (were both AFAB) and needed to use the restroom. When I went into the Nature Center I was IMMEDIATELY blocked by a staff member (middle age/older heavier set blonde woman in a Sterling Heights Rec Dept polo shirt, badge (turned backwards) on a land yard) who had her arms out blocking the entrance and yelled at me that this building is closed, only open for private events! There were several families with children at the park that day, for some event that was going on with outdoor crafts, etc. So I explained that I just needed to use the bathroom. She told me I wasnt allowed in the building and we dont have restrooms for your kind here. I asked if there were any portapotties around instead and she said No, and you need to leave NOW. She started walking forward with her arms up at me and I turned and walked out, met back with my friend and we left. Ive been thinking about this all day, trying to figure out what she had meant by the your kind comment and then it clicked. There had been an instance earlier where some random man had come up to me when Id arrived (before meeting with my friend) and kept bugging me, asking if I was single, for my number, etc. I finally said very clearly Im not interested in straight men! And he finally got the hint and buggered off. There were people setting up tables for the event right next to where I was standing when this happened, so Im wondering if she heard me say that. Best case scenario, she was just very rude and doesnt understand personal space of physical boundaries. Worst case scenario, shes a homophobic park worker abusing her authority and intentionally used her mass to be physically confrontational. Either way, this was a horrible experience and it sucks even more because this was the Nature Center I had so many fond memories from as a child. Ive finally moved back after living out of state and this was my first time back to this park in over 20 years. The trees have grown up but a certain staff member sure hasnt!
May 14th, 2022