Parks and Recreation Department

Municipal Service Center – 4811 N. Saginaw Rd. Midland, MI 48640 Phone: 989-837-6930 Email: recreation@midland-mi.org

City Forest - To view a MapQuest map to City Forest, click here.

2840 E. Monroe Rd. (1/4 mile west of Eastman Ave.), Midland, MI 48640

Call: 989-835-7011 during hours of operation or the Parks Office at 989-837-6930

City Forest – Winter Activities

During winter, there is an outdoor ice rink, sled hills, cross country skiing, and an old-fashioned toboggan run to enjoy at City Forest, Midland’s 520-acre nature park. Read below for more on specific wintertime recreational opportunities. Click here for frequently asked questions regarding snow shoeing and other activities in the park in the winter.

Current Status/Weather Conditions for Tobogganing, Ski Trails, Other Activities

For City Forest’s current conditions and hours of operation, click here.

Winter Hours of Operation – Weather permitting will begin Friday, December 14, 2012.

Fridays	*4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturdays	*10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sundays	*Noon to 6 p.m.
December 24	*10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
December 25	CLOSED
December 31	*12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
January 1	*12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
December 26-30 & Jan 2-4 MPS Break	*10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

*Hours of operation determined by weather

Sledding

The sledding hill is lighted and available for sledding (at your own risk) daily from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Bring your plastic sled or tube to our groomed sledding hill. Sleds are available for rental for $2.00 per sled per two-hour rental. Sorry, for safety reasons, toboggans, steel runner sleds and snowboards are not permitted on the sled hill.

Tobogganing

City Forest has four iced, elevated runs. Toboggans can be rented for $6 per hour, for a two-hour maximum. The toboggan run is operational as weather permits and only available when staff is present. Toboggans must be rented from the City Forest; no personal toboggans are allowed. Reservations are not taken for tobogganing.

Cross Country Skiing

Midland City Forest offers wonderful cross country skiing on groomed trails for classic and skate skiing. Trails are designed for skiers of all levels, from beginner to an advanced 11k loop. A 1k (.6 of a mile) beginner trail is lighted from dusk until 8 p.m. every evening that the City Forest is open. City Forest can also be utilized by horses in the spring, summer and fall months. We ask that during the winter season when cross country ski trails are being groomed that equestrians do not utilize the trail system.

· Rental Rates: Skis, boots and poles can be rented for $6 per two-hour rental, and are available at the garage at the west end of the parking lot.

· Trail Maps: Click here for a map of the cross country ski trails. Hard copies of the trail maps are available at the trail head mailbox or at the ski rental shed. For skiing conditions in Michigan click here http://www.nordicskiracer.com/cgi-bin/Trails/TrailReportView.asp?range=2 .

Skating & Hockey

There’s an outdoor skating rink at City Forest as weather permits. There is no fee to skate on this rink. Skate rental is available during hours of operation; cost is just $2.00 per pair per two-hour rental.

· Emerson Park: An outdoor regulation-size hockey rink is also available - depending on weather conditions - at Emerson Park, located at the corner of Main St. and Orchard Dr. The outdoor rink is lighted from 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. evenings.

· Indoor Skating & Hockey: Figure skating, speed skating, and hockey leagues are operated by community organizations headquartered at the Midland Civic Arena.  Please click on this link, or contact the appropriate organization below for further information:

o Midland Figure Skating Club - 989-835-5616 - http://www.midlandfigureskatingclub.org/

o Midland Area Hockey League - 989-495-0607- http://www.usahockey.com/midland_amateur_hock/

o Midland Civic Arena - 989-495-0610 - www.midlandcivicarena.com

Chalet Use/Rental

The Chalet is used for a rustic warming house during winter activity hours of operation as listed below. The Chalet is a great place to go after a cold day of play outdoors. Enjoy a beautiful stone fireplace, buy a hot chocolate, and watch the action from large picture windows that look out onto the grounds. The Chalet has restrooms, telephones, and a snack bar. During winter activities, the Chalet cannot be reserved for private parties or allow outside food.

Reserve the Chalet: From April 15-November 15 each year, the Chalet is the perfect place for a baby shower, meeting, birthday party, or other special event. It holds up to 56 people (contains eight 6’ picnic tables), and there’s a kitchen/serving area with refrigerator available. The Chalet can be reserved after the second Monday in January. Contact the Parks and Recreation office for details.