If you’re looking for your new favorite family-friendly park in Rochester Hills, Innovation Hills is definitely worth checking out. Located at 2800 W. Hamlin Road, this 110-acre park has unique features for people of all ages including a giant treehouse, relaxing walking paths and a covered events pavilion.
The park opened in October 2019 and the spacious playground area was added in September 2021. Entry is free and there is convenient parking just steps away from the main park entrance. Innovation Hills is open year-round, but the hours vary based on the time of year so be sure to check the schedule online before visiting. Currently the park is open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm.
This award-winning park has received several accolades including the “Special Innovative – Decorative” award from the Michigan Concrete Association and the Park Design of the Year Award from mParks, the Michigan Recreation and Park Association. There are many unique design elements throughout Innovation Hills including glow stones in the concrete that shine as the sun sets and a slanted wall covered in turf that doubles as a slide.
The moment you walk through the park gates, you’re greeted by a larger-than-life treehouse which serves as the focal point of the three-acre nature-themed playground. The play area has sections built specifically for each age group from two to 12. “There’s something for everyone to do here at Innovation Hills, no matter their age or abilities,” says Maryann Derr, Assistant Park Ranger at Innovation Hills. “The fenced-in, wheelchair-accessible playground makes it an inclusive and secure play space.” Activities include twisty slides, a zip line, tunnels perfect for a game of hide-and-seek, musical instruments and oversized busy boards that promote imagination and creativity. The swing sets are various shades of green and brown to blend in with the surrounding nature elements. There’s also a river that flows right through the playground area with working water pumps. “This is a big hit with the kids,” says Maryann. “They are always splashing around and enjoying the water.”
But there’s more to Innovation Hills than the playground area. If you’re looking for a quiet place to walk, bike or read, check out the one-mile walking path and wooden plank boardwalk that’s surrounded by trees, wildflowers and birds. “The wooden plank boardwalk allows people of all ages to enjoy a comfortable nature walk,” says Maryann. Innovation Hills is also home to two gardens—a sensory garden and a butterfly-shaped garden. We were lucky to see a mallard duck nesting on top of the entrance to the sensory garden last time we visited the park.
There’s also a live roof shelter area that’s available to rent for special events from May through September. This 16 x 20-foot open-air space has two eight-foot picnic tables and enough room to accommodate approximately 16 people. It’s conveniently located right near the park entrance and inside the playground area with easy access to the restrooms.
Whether you want to spend just an hour or the whole day at Innovation Hills, there is plenty to do at this versatile park. Take your kids to the playground, pack a picnic lunch or walk along the boardwalk and listen to the sounds of nature to get away from the
hustle and bustle.
When we go to Innovation Hills, my two-year-old son loves climbing through the treehouse, playing in the sandbox and going down the slide. But he’s also just as content looking for ants and pointing out all of the birds flying by.
Rochester Hills residents Alyssa and Jake Trecapelli say they love how many kid-friendly activities there are at Innovation Hills. “The park is super unique compared to others in the area,” they say. “We also like that there’s spongy turf instead of woodchips, which makes it safer for the kids.” They go to Innovation Hills often with their one-year-old son. Jake also visits the park to fly fish in the Clinton River, which you can conveniently access from Innovation Hills. Kayak carts are available by reservation, but you must bring your own kayak.
On any given day at Innovation Hills, you can find children playing on the swing sets, families enjoying picnics, friends biking and couples strolling on the boardwalk. The modern design, cleanliness and versatility of the space make Innovation Hills a can’t-miss local park.
"The wooden plank boardwalk allows people of all ages to enjoy a comfortable nature walk."
“There’s something for everyone to do here at Innovation Hills, no matter their age or abilities. The fenced-in, wheelchair accessible playground makes it an inclusive and secure play space.”