Farmington Hills Celebrates Earth Day with Nature Trail Opening

Under sunny skies, the City of Farmington Hills celebrated Earth Day Monday with an event in Heritage Park that included the grand opening of a new Nature Discovery Trail. 

Naturalist Ashley Simons, representing the city's Nature Center, said many volunteers and groups, including the city's parks staff, made the trail possible. 

"If it wasn't for the volunteers, a lot of the programs we offer here at the Nature Center wouldn't be possible," she added. 

Mayor Barry Brickner said recycled wood for the arch that marks the beginning of the trail came from various park facilities, including Longacre House, the Farmington Hills Golf Club and the Nature Center roof. A longhouse replica located along the trail was built by youth and volunteers from the city's after-school program, he said, and employees from Alcoa in Farmington Hills volunteered to clean up a portion of the trail. 

"The Nature Discovery Trail is a scent-sory trail," Brickner said. "You will have the chance to smell unique things in our scent boxes. I've heard one of the boxes smells like a skunk."