The 9 Best Parks in Waterford, MI

Drayton Plains Nature Center

Park · Waterford Township · 0.9 mi

With 138 acres open dawn to dusk year-round, Drayton Plains Nature Center earns the top spot for its combination of hiking, picnic facilities and family-friendly activities in Waterford, MI. The property stretches nearly a mile, with kid-friendly hikes and dogs welcome. Picnic tables, a barbecue grill and public restrooms support longer outings, while wheelchair-accessible parking and an accessible entrance aid arrival. Its Interpretive Building opens seasonally, and a 4.7 Google rating from 417 reviews adds support for its first-place ranking.

• 138-acre park
• Kid-friendly hikes
• Year-round outdoor access

“Zeppelin Memorial 5K. Nice race in a nice place.”

Lookout Lodge

Park · Waterford Township · 2.6 mi

Hiking, picnic facilities, and a play area give Lookout Lodge several ways to spend a day outdoors in Waterford, MI, earning it the No. 2 spot. Kid-friendly hikes and a welcome for dogs make it an option for family outings, while picnic tables and a barbecue grill support a meal afterward. Free parking, public restrooms, and wheelchair-accessible parking and entry add practical value. The park also holds a 4.7 Google rating from 128 reviews and lists daily hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Kid-friendly hikes
• Picnic tables and grill
• Free parking

“Great park... a lot was closed off and under construction but still a awesome park”

Warming House

Park · Waterford Township · 0.7 mi

Picnic facilities and accessible basics earn Warming House the No. 3 spot among parks in Waterford, MI. At 5050 Civic Center Dr, it welcomes children and provides picnic tables, a public restroom, a wheelchair-accessible entrance and accessible parking. A dog walker’s review also praises the town’s work keeping the pond traversable through winter. With a 4.5-star Google rating from 80 reviews, Warming House combines positive visitor feedback with practical amenities for a picnic stop.

• Picnic tables
• Public restroom
• Wheelchair-accessible entrance

“This is just a place where I'm saying thank you to Waterford! Us dog walkers really appreciate how Waterford maintains the pond for us! It's somewhere we can take our dog all winter and they do amazing jobs keeping it traversible for us…”

Waterford Oaks County Park

Park · Waterford Township · 2.2 mi

Hiking, tennis and picnic facilities earn Waterford Oaks County Park the No. 5 spot, with several ways to spend time outdoors in Waterford, MI. At 1702 Scott Lake Rd, the park offers kid-friendly hikes, picnic tables and barbecue grills, and welcomes dogs. Free parking, public restrooms, a wheelchair-accessible entrance and accessible parking add practical benefits. Its Google rating is 4.5 stars from 153 reviews; one reviewer praised the trails while noting that clearer signs at forks would help.

• Kid-friendly hikes
• Tennis courts
• Picnic tables and grills

“Great trails if only Waterford marked them better, when you come to a fork a sign wound nice”

Crescent Lake Park Association

Park · Waterford Township · 1.3 mi

A play area and picnic tables give Crescent Lake Park Association a clear role for outings with children in Waterford, MI. Ranked No. 6, the park at 105 Crescent Rd combines those practical amenities with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible parking. Its listing specifically identifies it as suitable for picnics and welcoming to children. A Google rating of 4.5 from 51 reviews adds to the case for including it among the city’s best parks.

• Children’s play area
• Picnic tables
• Wheelchair-accessible entrance

“Who do I contact to get my pass renewal?”

Rotary Park

Park · Waterford Township · 0.5 mi

Playground swings, picnic tables, and a baseball field give Rotary Park several ways to spend an afternoon in Waterford, MI. The public park at 5485 Tubbs Rd earns rank 7 for combining those recreation options with practical facilities, including public restrooms, a wheelchair-accessible entrance, and wheelchair-accessible parking. Dogs are welcome, and the park is listed as suitable for children’s birthday gatherings. Its 4.4-star Google rating from 77 reviews adds support to a selection grounded in its play and picnic amenities.

• Playground swings
• Baseball field
• Wheelchair-accessible parking

“It's safe after dark, but look out in daytime for people who are not having a Good Day.”

Elizabeth Lake Woods Park

Park · Waterford Township · 2.0 mi

Kid-friendly hikes and a welcome for dogs earn Elizabeth Lake Woods Park the No. 8 spot among parks in Waterford, MI. Hiking is a listed activity, and the park’s child-friendly attributes make it an option for outings with younger walkers. Daily hours run from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., allowing for morning or evening visits. A Google rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 22 reviews adds positive visitor feedback to those practical reasons for its inclusion.

• Kid-friendly hikes
• Dogs welcome
• Open daily

Waterford Township Parks & Recreation Department

Park · Waterford Township · 2.0 mi

More than 850 acres of green space underpin the Waterford Township Parks & Recreation Department’s No. 9 spot. Established in 1951, it oversees 16 parks and facilities in Waterford, MI, alongside recreation programs and services for residents and families. Reviewers describe a beautiful, relaxing setting and an enjoyable dog walk around a field. Its responsibility for protecting natural resources and providing leisure opportunities adds to the case, supported by a 4.2 Google rating from 13 reviews.

• 16 parks and facilities
• 850-plus green acres
• Established in 1951

“Signed my granddaughter up for parent/child swim class. The class was canceled and I was never notified. No call, no email, not in my spam either”

Shell Park

Park · Waterford Township · 1.5 mi

Picnic tables and ball fields give Shell Park a practical place at No. 10 among parks in Waterford, MI. Located at 4373 Dixie Hwy, it offers a public restroom, wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible parking, and welcomes children and dogs. One reviewer describes quiet mornings and mentions a barbecue stand; another praises the clean, well-kept fields. Its picnic amenities and Google rating of 4 out of 5 from 26 reviews support its inclusion as an option for a picnic or time at the fields.

• Picnic tables
• Ball fields
• Wheelchair-accessible parking

“Nice quiet park in the morning. There are 2 ball fields, some picnic tables and a bbq stand. Not much else. Good place for breakfast.”