5 Sporting Opportunities U-M Students Should Check Out
Fun festivities students must experience
—By Andrew Ahn and Kiran Kumar
Are you tired of constantly going to the IM or CCRB? Want some more variety in your options to exercise and have fun? Then look no further—here are 5 places every student in Ann Arbor should visit to experience something brand new and exciting.
Buhr Park: Located in Ann Arbor on 2751 Packard St, a 10 minute drive from the Diag, Buhr Park provides Ann Arbor people an opportunity with its outdoor ice rink to enjoy Ann Arbor’s chilly winters when going stir-crazy. As winter usually confines people to their houses, Buhr Park’s ice rink grants particularly students and younger children the chance to relieve stress and enjoy some fresh air by skating around with friends and family. Even though outdoor skating is a rather niche activity, students who attend the University of Michigan and have never skated before should definitely consider giving skating a try as an avenue to explore something new and experience an activity exclusive to the winter season. Buhr Park offers skate rentals ($3) and adult passes ($6) for one hour time slots throughout the week, offering an affordable option to particularly students to exercise and have fun outdoors during the winter. As Ann Arbor winters are typically quite brutal and can limit one’s options for trying to find outdoor activities, give Buhr Park’s ice rink a try and maybe even those who don’t love the winter can find something enjoyable and exciting to do!
Planet Rock: Located in Ann Arbor on 82 Aprill Dr C, roughly a 10 to 15 minute drive from the Diag, Planet Rock is an indoor rock-climbing facility for newbies and advanced level climbers! Ryan Lints, a senior studying biomolecular sciences, was always searching for something to do other than playing flag football and spikeball with his friends. When he heard about the opportunity to go climbing at Planet Rock, he immediately took it and gave raving reviews: “At first, I was pretty skeptical, but after trying it once for an hour, I have to say I’m hooked! As much fun as it is playing football with my friends, climbing is just something new I’ve never done before and that I’ve really started to enjoy!” Planet Rock offers an $18 pass for walk-ins, providing particularly students like Ryan a rather affordable and new opportunity to exercise and have fun.
Bandamer Disc Golf: Located in Ann Arbor on 1352 Lake Shore Dr, roughly a 8 to 10 minute drive from the Diag, Bandamer Disc Golf is a course in Ann Arbor giving students and those in the area an opportunity to disc golf! Similar to golf, but throwing a frisbee instead of hitting a golf ball with a club, no prior experience is necessary! If one is looking to try something new and not very physically demanding, then disc golf is most definitely for you. Disc golfing allows you to go at your own pace, similar to golf, and really enjoy nature and time with friends or family. Jake Hopper, a senior studying Public Health at the University of Michigan, got tired of playing baseball and running around the track, and wanted to try something different. After going to Bandamer Disc Golf and trying disc golfing for the first time, he immediately fell in love with the slow pace of the game and opportunity to simply relax and enjoy spending time with friends, similar to bowling. “I love how when I go disc golfing, I can just enjoy nature and spend quality time with friends while being outside, as I hate being cooped up inside! Definitely something I would recommend for students to try out sometime!”
Nichols Arboretum: Located directly on the University of Michigan’s campus lies Nichols Arboretum, or commonly referred to by locals as the Arb. The Arb offers students a unique experience, as they can partake in a variety of outdoor activities ranging from basketball and soccer to hiking and jogging on some of the most scenic routes in Ann Arbor. The Arb is a large forest area near the hospital and includes a collection of gardens, trails, and spots to stop and simply admire the astounding views. Additionally, there are many stops along the Huron River which branch off of the trails for those looking to either fish or even go tubing if weather permits. The Arb includes activities for everyone and is open 24/7 for anyone to enter free of charge. For students, the Arb is easily accessible, as it is just a short walk from the Diag. For senior year student Steven Lipson, “Long walks through the Arb helped to clear my head and ease my stress.” Spending time outdoors is good for everyone, and there’s no better to visit than the Arb to do so!
Gallup Park: Located in Ann Arbor on 3000 Fuller Road, roughly an 8-minute drive from the Diag, Gallup Park is the largest park in Ann Arbor and an excellent place to head to during the spring, summer, and fall months of the year. One popular spring & summer activity at Gallup Park is boating, as Gallup Park contains a Livery which offers canoe, kayak, and paddle boat rentals ranging from $14-23 to those looking to travel along the Huron River. Gallup Park also has many arbors with bench seating tables and in-ground grills- perfect for picnics and outdoor eating. For junior Olivia Kenzie, Gallup Park is a must visit for all students: “I love coming to Gallup Park with my boyfriend and enjoying a nice picnic with views you simply can’t beat!” Bikers would be interested to know that Gallup Park’s trails connect to the larger Border-to-Border trail, which spans a 19 mile distance across greater Washtenaw County. Overall, Gallup Park is an excellent place for students who wish to boat, bike, or walk along the park trails & river areas in Ann Arbor!
Featured Image: Photo by Sandro Schuh on Unsplash