Parks
Canton Parks Fall 2023 Update
Be advised that all restrooms and porta johns throughout Canton's park system will be closed for the season as of November 1. Pease plan accordingly when visiting a Canton park, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We still hope to see you out there enjoying the parks this winter season! For additional information, please contact the Canton Parks office at 734/394-5310.
Canton Parks Overview
Canton Township prides itself on providing an excellent system of parks which offer a variety of activities for residents, plus a place for families to gather for picnics and other outdoor activities. Park pavilions, gazebo, and the Amphitheater in Heritage Park are available for rental by community groups and individuals. To locate a park near you, please check out our Canton Township Facilities, Parks, and Open Spaces Map.
Canton Leisure Services offers a variety of sports for all ages including: adult softball, adult volleyball, youth basketball, youth baseball, youth lacrosse, and more. Visit the Canton Sport Center webpage to learn more.
- Park Rules
- Locate a Park
- Rental Information
- Field Permits
- Featured Park Amenities
- Benefits of Parks
- Support Parks & Trails
Park Rules
Canton Township requires that all residents and guests abide by the Ordinances and Rules set up by the Township. For the enjoyment and safety of everyone using Canton's parks, we thank you for paying attention to the following:
- Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times (and please leave nothing behind...)
- Skateboarding is not allowed in Canton parks
- All of our parks are open from 6 am - 10 pm (unless otherwise posted)
- Motorized, electrical boats must have Park Supervisor's approval
- Gas powered remote control airplane, helicopters, cars or boats are not allowed in Canton Parks
- No alcohol is allowed in Canton Parks
- Pavilion users may only grill in the designated pavilion spaces
Canton Township Ordinances: a complete list of park rules is listed in Chapter 50-Leisure Services.
Locate Parks
- Canton Community Parks
- Canton Trails
- Find all parks in the Metro Detroit area using the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) Park Finder Opens a New Window.
Parks Spring/Summer Season Update
Canton Parks amenities open seasonally, including:
- Freedom Pickleball Courts
- Flodin Tennis Courts
- Griffin Tennis Courts.
- Park public restrooms
For additional information, please call 734/394-5310.
Rental Information
Pavilion Rental Information
Pavilions, the Amphitheater and the Gazebo are available for rent at Heritage Park and Freedom Park. All guests must adhere to park and pavilion rules.
For more information please visit the Pavilion Rental web page.
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND LARGE RENTALS
Businesses, non-profit groups, organizations and individuals can request to host an event in a Canton park or facility. All interested parties must submit a completed Community Event Application to the Canton Leisure Services Parks Division at least 21 days prior to the event date.
Community Event Application (PDF)
Canton Parks Field Permits and Usage
Athletic fields are available throughout Canton Parks for Community residents to use during the outdoor season. The turf fields are ideal for baseball, softball, soccer, cricket, football, lacrosse, kickball, ultimate frisbee and more. The Canton Sports Center coordinates all field permits throughout the community.
- Learn More: Canton Field Permit web page or call 734/483-5600
New Park Amenities
Redesigned Heritage Park North Pavilion Playground
Heritage Park's playground amenities at the North Pavilion location have been expanded to include a “We-Go-Round,” which is a new take on the classic merry-go-round that provides an inclusive solution to achieve the spinning sensation for individuals using wheelchairs, enabling children of all abilities to spin together. This exciting amenity can be spun from the inside or outside, allowing everyone to participate in the fun. Individuals of all abilities can sit and face each other and engage with everyone around them and, most importantly, they’re able to play together. For additional information, contact the Canton Park office at 734/394-5310,
Accessible Musical Playground Available in Heritage Park
Canton Parks staff have installed an Americans with Disabilities (ADA) accessible musical playground on the north end of Heritage Park, which was constructed to be accessible to children with disabilities, especially for those utilizing walkers and wheelchairs.
Accessible musical components include:
- Swirl Chimes, which are sculptural bells that are made of anodized aluminum that offer a wide range of sounds from soprano to alto
- Pagoda Bells, which are comprised of stacked durable bells that emanate calming tunes
- Imbarimba, which is a unique melodious instrument that combines elements of two African instruments – the Marimba and the Kalimba. This unique design provides access to a wide range of upper and lower notes
- Yantzee, which is comprised of resonating aluminum bars that project low tunes
- Five Tuned Drums of varying heights make up the final musical station that was designed to be played by hand by one or more children. Each drum was designed to produce a different pitch, and the shortest drum is accessible to even toddler-sized musicians.
All of these musical instruments offer a variety of activities for children that promote social interaction, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and sensory integration.
Benefits of Getting Outdoors and Enjoying Canton's Parks
Whether you are walking your dog, shooting hoops, or cooling off in one of our splash playgrounds, Canton's parks offer numerous leisure amenities.
In addition to these expected opportunities, Canton's parks can also provide measurable health benefits, from providing direct contact with nature and a cleaner environment, to opportunities for physical activity and social interaction.
Health Benefits
- Preliminary evidence suggests that using parks may lead to other healthy lifestyle choices, such as balanced eating.
- Outdoor exercise has been shown to renew energy and foster a sense of psychological restoration.
- Researchers have identified a positive correlation between play in parks and heightened concentration among children with attention deficit disorder.
- Parks can serve as critical infrastructure to strengthen public health and safety. (Article from Parks & Recreation NRPA's monthly magazine)
Economic Benefits
- Parks increase property values - and improve the tax base - as home buyers are more often willing to pay a higher price for a residence near a park.
- Trees and shrubs reduce air pollution control expenses.
- Green spaces protect groundwater sources and their no-mow buffer zones can also cut the cost of area drinking water.
Support Canton's Parks and Trails
There are many ways that you can help to support Canton's parks and trails. Throughout the year, special event, clean-up days and other opportunities for involvement will be posted here.
Commemorative Bench Program
Canton Leisure Services offers residents, businesses, and guests the opportunity to create a memorial or sponsorship within our parks, trails, and around facilities. Current opportunities include the purchase of park benches. This is a great way to show your support for the communities natural spaces and for remembering loved ones. Please call the Canton Parks office at 734/394-5310 for more information.
Donations and Planned Giving: Canton Trails Fund
If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution to future trail projects, please consider the Canton Trail Fund. The Canton Trail Fund is made possible through the Canton Community Foundation. With the assistance of long-time Canton residents Laura and Jim Kosteva, the Canton Trail Fund is designed to provide grants to Canton Township for the building and maintaining of public bike and walking trails within the township of Canton. The intention of the fund is to be a supplement to existing and proposed future trail improvement, maintenance, expansion and capital construction activities of the Charter Township of Canton. Learn More
Pond Algae Management
Addressing increased algae levels remains a continuous struggle for the Canton Parks division. Several residents have inquired what treatment protocols are being implemented. The good news is that Canton has obtained great results by using underwater pond aerators and bacteria pods as part of a pilot project last year at Pheasant Run Golf Club to combat algae growth without the use of chemicals.
Based on these successful results as illustrated in the photos below, the program has been expanded to include the ponds at Heritage Park. This dual approach is effective since it adds ‘healthy’ bacteria into a body of water that consumes the muck at the bottom of the pond. If left uncontrolled, the more muck in a pond means increased levels of algae, since algae feeds off of this muck. In the past, Canton has had limited success by using chemical and color dyes that only contribute to the vicious cycle of creating more muck and therefore better conditions for algae to continue to grow and expand. The bad news is that this new approach is a multi-year process. However, once established it will be an effective long-term environmentally-friendly solution. The “Before & After” photos of a successfully treated pond at Pheasant Run below show just how dramatic and long-term these results can be.
Already this season, treatment has been started on Heritage Park’s small pond, located next to the gazebo, as well as in the large pond by the Amphitheater. This means by the summer of 2023, the ponds at Heritage Park should look much improved and this environmentally friendly long-term solution should be well underway.
Before
After
CANTON COMMUNITY EVENT VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES
Canton Township hosts events year-round that have opportunities for vendor participation. To be considered for an event, potential vendors must be family-friendly and contribute to the overall success of the event. Community events include: Canton Liberty Fest; Thursday Night LIVE! Concert Series; Tuesdays Art Terrific Concert Series; Rally on Ridge Food Truck event; additional Food Truck opportunities; and other seasonal special events.
Interested vendors can submit this Vendor Inquiry form to express their interest in participating in future community events and will be contacted by Canton Township staff.
For additional information, please contact the Canton Park Office at 734/394-5310.
Canton Parks Smoking Ban Ordinance
As of January 1, 2020, Canton Township has banned smoking in its parks, as well as on Canton Leisure Services facility properties with minor exemptions. This revision to the Canton Code of Ordinances’ Chapter 50 Parks and Recreation section prohibits smoking of tobacco and other substances, as well as the use of vaping products on properties and open spaces.
Smoking will only be permitted by adults at Pheasant Run Golf Club and Fellows Creek Golf Club in designated smoking areas. These amendments to the Canton Parks Ordinance were put into effect in an effort to support public health and ensure more enjoyable experiences for all visitors to Canton’s parks and open spaces. For additional information, contact the Canton Park Office at 734/394-5310 .