Do you find being in nature restorative, but need a reason to get outside this spring? Come celebrate Restore in the Outdoors with Oakland County Parks (OCP) on May 4!

Park entry will be free, and guests will have access to trails, dog parks, playgrounds, fishing spots and more at 15 OCP locations. Free programming will be offered at Pontiac Oaks County Park and Red Oaks Nature Center in Madison Heights.

There are many health benefits to being in nature, not least that nature provides a refresh for your mind. Exposure to nature can be an effective coping strategy to reduce stress and to alleviate the impact of chronic mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to the Mayo Clinic.

Restore in the Outdoors will offer the health benefits of immersion in nature close to home. It also aligns with OCP’s mission to provide parks and recreation services that are safe and welcoming to everyone and to increase access to spaces and experiences that promote physical, mental and social health.

Programming at Pontiac Oaks County Park,1400 Telegraph Road in Pontiac, will be held from 10 a.m.-noon and includes:

• Meet the Bassquatch Hunter Mike McKinstry for Fishing 101. Award winning Discovery Channel Show Bassquatch Hunter – Fish Out of Water
• Fishing at the pier with free equipment available for guests to use
• Bird hikes led by parks naturalists
• Happy Little Rocks arts and crafts station
• Beginner Vinyasa Flow Yoga from 10:15-11 a.m., presented by Studio 8 Fitness
• Yin meditation from 11:15 a.m.-noon, presented by Studio 8 Fitness

Programming at Red Oaks Nature Center, 30300 Hales St. in Madison Heights, will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and includes:

• Bird hikes from 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m.
• Forest Bathing from 1-2:30 p.m.; preregister by calling 248-858-0916 weekdays

During Restore in the Outdoors, entry fees will be waived at these Oakland County Parks:

• Addison Oaks County Park, 1480 West Romeo Road, north of Rochester – Activities include biking, boating, disc golfing, equestrian riding, fishing, geocaching, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking and playing on the playground
• Groveland Oaks County Park, 14555 Dixie Highway, Holly – Boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking and playing on the playground
• Highland Oaks County Park, 6555 Milford Road, Highland – Biking, boating, equestrian trail riding, fishing, geocaching, hiking and picnicking
• Independence Oaks County Park, 9501 Sashabaw Road, near Clarkston – Biking, boating, fishing, geocaching, hiking, visiting the nature center, picnicking and playing on the playground
• Lyon Oaks County Park and Dog Park, 52221 Pontiac Trail, Lyon Township – Biking, playing at the dog park, geocaching, hiking and picnicking
• Orion Oaks County Park, 2301 W. Clarkston Road, Lake Orion – Biking, boating, fishing, geocaching, hiking and picnicking
• Orion Oaks Dog Park, Joslyn Road between Clarkston and Scripps roads, Lake Orion
• Red Oaks Dog Park, 31353 Dequindre Road, Madison Heights
• Rose Oaks County Park, 10400 Fish Lake Road, near Holly – Biking, boating, equestrian trail riding, fishing, geocaching, hiking and picnicking

Parks open 30 minutes before sunrise and close 30 minutes after sunset, or as posted at the park.

Restore in the Outdoors is part of a series of Free Entry Days the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission offers each year. For a complete list of the 2024 Free Entry Days and participating locations, visit OaklandCountyParks.com.

These parks are always open to the public free of charge: Catalpa Oaks County Park in Southfield; Springfield Oaks County Park in Davisburg; and Waterford Oaks County Park in Waterford.

For information on other events, visit OaklandCountyParks.com. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Oakland County offers residents quality, affordable housing in welcoming neighborhoods with access to parks and recreation, public transportation, and healthy food as part of the Livable Neighborhoods goal in our five-year road map. Follow the Oakland County Executive Office on Facebook and Twitter for updates and visit our dashboard to see the progress being made to ensure Oakland County is All Ways, Moving Forward. Follow along with Oakland County on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for news and services year-round.