It’s times like these where we need each other more than ever. It’s why we still felt you needed some ideas for recreation. We would love to hear from you during this time as well and stay connected. Be sure to follow us on Facebook (@NoviParks), Twitter (@NoviParks) and Instagram (@Novi_Parks) or send us an email at noviparks@cityofnovi.org. Send us photos of you exploring a park, your latest painting or just say hello.

1. Visit a new park
Novi is home to more than 1,400 acres of parkland with parks located all across the community. See how many parks you can visit and make note of your favorites. While the playgrounds may still be closed, these parks still have so much to offer. Grab a blanket and read on the grass, go for a walk and look for birds and native plants or even test your kite flying skills. Visit cityofnovi.org to find a list of all the parks and their locations.

2. Explore your creative side
Use this extra time to brush up on your dance moves, try a different style of art or hone in your musical skills. We all miss the time we get to do this together, but we would love to see what you have been working on and look forward to seeing how much everyone has grown over the last couple months. If you need some inspiration, don’t hesitate to reach out or check out some of the things we are doing on Facebook & Instagram and join in.

3. Exercise at home
It’s important to still get exercise while we are hunkered down to keep ourselves physically healthy. The beauty of so many of our Novi Parks fitness classes is a lot of the moves you learn in class can also be done at home. Connect with someone from class over the phone, via email or even on video to hold each other accountable for getting a workout in. If you need some exercises from our instructors, shoot us an email and we can help!

4. Take to the trails
We are proud of our non-motorized pathways and invite you to get out and experience them yourselves! Lakeshore Park has 10 miles of hiking and biking trails alone, and the nearly five-mile ITC Corridor Trail that was completed last summer is drawing rave reviews. This paved pathway, that runs from ITC Community Sports Park to Ascension Providence Hospital, features beautiful views and potential run ins with wildlife and peace and quiet amid the hustle and bustle of the City.

5. Connect with your Novi Parks team
The Novi Parks team has created a variety of “virtual” opportunities for you to stay sharp and have fun. We would invite you to scroll back through the Novi Parks Facebook Page (@NoviParks), Instagram feed (@Novi_Parks) or visit novi.org and check out the posts on Meditation Mondays, Tongue Out Tuesdays (pet photos), Adaptive Wednesdays and the At-Home Sport Series on Thursdays, as well as a variety of other special activities tying into the arts and fitness. There’s something for everyone, whether you want to be guided through a short activity lesson, learn a fun fact or craft, or just check out some photos of pooches from around town. It is our hope that things will soon return to normal – or a new normal – and we will be able to engage with you in person again. If you have any questions or ideas for ways we can better connect, please send us an email at noviparks@cityofnovi.org.