Stony Creek Metropark

Stony Creek Metropark is a Huron-Clinton Metropark located predominantly in Washington Township, MI and Oakland Charter Township, MI, with a small portion in Shelby Township, MI. The park covers convert|4461|acre|km2 with a large lake at its center.

Geography

Stony Creek Metropark completely surrounds a man-made lake built by damming Stony Creek, a tributary of the Clinton River. Stony Creek drains 72 square miles (116 km²) of northern Oakland County and the lake formed from the dams covers convert|500|acre|km2.

Stony Creek Metropark is situated on a moraine which makes for varied landscape. The park has forests, hills, prairies, as well as swamps. The park is also relatively high above sea level, 875 feet (267 m) at the park office. Although a visitor can see downtown Detroit (26 miles away) from the park office, it is not the highest point in Macomb County, as many people believe. Trombley Mountain, located in the Ford Proving Grounds (Bruce Township), is convert|1150|ft|m above sea level - the highest point in Macomb County.

Activities

Stony Creek has a vast amount of trails in four different locations around the park. There are 14 miles (22.5 km) of mountain biking/hiking trails located on the grounds of a former estate, of which the foundations are still visible. There are another 8.5 miles (13.7 km) of hiking trails near the nature center, and over 6 miles (10 km) of foot trails near Inwood lake. Additionally, there is a 6.2 mile (10 km) paved trail that circles Stony Creek lake which is popular with joggers, inline-skaters, and bicyclists.

Stony Creek Metropark also has:
* A convert|6981|yd|sing=on, 18-hole golf course
* Snowboarding, sledding and tobogganning hills
* Two beaches on Stony Creek lake, one of which (Eastwood) features life guards
* Picnic areas with basketball courts, baseball fields, playgrounds, and beach volleyball courts
* Nature center
* Ice skating rink
* 24-hole disc golf course
* Boat launch
* Rowboats, paddleboats, canoes, and kayaks available for rent
* Cross country skiing trails and ski rentals

Wildlife

The park is reestablishing an osprey population in south-eastern Michigan. There are also wild turkeys, deer, and other animals one can expect in south-east Michigan in the park. Birding is encouraged with the nature center maintaining a species list.

Tara Lynn Grant Murder

In early 2007, some body parts of Tara Lynn Grant were found hidden in the nearby forest at Stony Creek. They were discovered by the Macomb County Sheriff Department during the manhunt for Stephen Grant. [cite web |url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070303/NEWS04/70303003&imw=Y |title=Police Search for Tara Grant's Body Parts |publisher=The Detroit Free Press |accessdate=2007-03-07 |format= |work= ]

References

External links

* [http://www.metroparks.com/ Huron-Clinton Metroparks]
* [http://www.crwc.org/ Clinton River Watershed Council]