Waterford

Top Lawn Proudly Serves the Waterford Area

Waterford Township, located in northern Oakland County, fits perfectly with its name. With 34 lakes and a vast amount of wetlands, marshes, and swamps within the township, 11.22 percent is covered in water. Waterford Township is home to the Oakland County International Airport, ranked as the 118th busiest airport in the nation. Because the township is centered around water, there are many private and public lakes, parks, and a variety of recreational activities available. We’ve compiled the best and given you a breakdown below.

Dodge #4 State Park

Dodge #4 State Park is one of Waterfords many hidden gems. A newly renovated sandy beach lies along a vast body of water known as Cass Lake. Outfitted with both shady and sunny areas, picnic tables and grills, the state park makes for a great place to celebrate anything from birthdays, holidays, work parties and family reunions. The park was donated to the State of Michigan by the Dodge Brothers Corporation in 1922, under the stipulation that it always be maintained as a public park. With a newly added universally accessible fishing pier, Cass Lake is known for its largemouth and smallmouth bass, pike, bluegill, perch, and trout. So grab your family, fishing rod, and grillables and enjoy a day on the lake at Dodge park.

Pontiac Lake Recreation Area

Are you a beach person? If you are looking for a place to kick back and scoop up the sand with your toes, Pontiac Lake Recreation Area is the place for you. With the longest beach in southeast Michigan at just over a half a mile, Pontiac Lake Recreation Area features a mixture of marshes, ponds, forests, and old farm fields. Amenities include an all-sports lake boat launch, hiking, biking, equestrian trails, a rustic equestrian campground, and a modern campground. It also contains an expansive picnic area full of grills, an off-leash dog park, a playground, and sand volleyball courts located on the beach. A group called Blazing Trails operates the park’s riding stable and offers guided and group horseback rides over scenic overlooks, pony rides, and more. Bike enthusiast? Then you’ve probably heard of Pontiac Lake’s infamous 11-mile bike trail. It has been ranked as one of the “Top 100 Trails” in the United States and is considered one of the most technical trails in southeast Michigan. The lake itself offers a variety of fishing, including both largemouth and smallmouth bass. So regardless of your fancy, Pontiac Lake Recreation Area has something for you.

Hess-Hathaway Park

If you are looking for a park with a bit of history attached, look no further than Hess-Hathaway Park. Hess-Hathaway went through renovations in the last few years, and a brand-new state of the art children’s playground was installed. It is accompanied by a sandbox, a small corn maze, and a farm where animals are raised. The farm animals include horses, pigs, birds, and waterfowl, as well as different kinds of rabbits. The park was donated by Mrs. Myrtle Hess and her family in 1985 and is now operated by Waterford Township Parks and Recreation. It also includes a community garden, softball fields, and trails around the park. In the summer, local bands perform free concerts in the park along with other special events that take place.

Waterford Oaks Waterpark

Not a lake person? Don’t worry, Waterford has something for you as well. Waterford Oaks Waterpark is home to a 185-acre preserve with a bicycle motocross track, water park, sand volleyball court, and sledding hill. The waterpark features a wave pool, children’s playground with more than 30 interactive activities, picnic areas with grills, concessions, a bathhouse, lounge chairs, and intertubes. The Waterford Oaks Bicycle Motocross track, which is also located in this park, opened in 1976 and is one of the oldest continually-operated tracks in the world. The 25-mile championship Waterford Oaks track plays host to practices and local, state, and national races, as well as competitions, with helmet and bike rentals available.