Thinking Spring
Outdoor activities abound in and around the Southfield City Centre for residents, employees, students and visitors. Here’s just a sampling of things to do this spring and summer in Southfield.
Eat to the Beat
This popular lunchtime food and music event happens the second Thursday of each month through September, kicking off June 12 on the front lawn of the Fracassi Municipal Campus. The crowd-pleasing event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is made possible by Southfield City Centre and Southfield Parks & Recreation.
Check out the Southfield City Centre Trail
Check out the Southfield City Centre Trail during lunch, after work or on the weekend. The trail features nearly 9 miles of non-motorized pathways, including a 3.5-mile “Inner Loop” where you’ll find several outdoor art installations. The Monarch Butterfly Pollinator Garden, Tapestry of a Community and Red Pole Park are just a few.
“Our city is becoming more and more pedestrian friendly, giving people a great place to engage in heart-healthy activities,” says Terry Croad, AICP, ASLA and director of planning for the City of Southfield. “We encourage people to enjoy nature while improving their overall health.”
Experience a 3.5-mile guided tour of 26 public works of art and cultural sites along the Trail. It’s available by downloading the PocketSights app to your mobile device and searching “Southfield, Michigan.”
Bike Share
The Southfield Bike Share program features 24 brand new bikes at eight convenient locations. The cost is $2 per hour, with students eligible for a $5 membership fee that allows them to ride any time.
Here’s where you can find them:
- Detroit Marriott Southfield
- Law & Technology Center Building (Lahser & NW Hwy)
- LTU Field House
- LTU Learning Center
- The Century Building
- City Centre (Starter’s Bar & Grill)
- Etkin Building (Near Chipotle)
- Southfield Pavillion
Athletes
Athletes (or athlete wannabes) will discover baseball diamonds, soccer fields and every type of court imaginable, including volleyball, tennis, pickleball, basketball and racquetball — all located on the Southfield Municipal Campus.
Tee Off
Time to tee off. Get ready to hit the links at the Evergreen Hills Golf Course, located at the Southfield Municipal Campus. This 9-hole, par 34, 2,954-yard public course is scheduled to open in April, weather permitting (check Southfield Parks and Recreation Facebook page).
Winter Fest 2025
Adults and children enjoyed this year’s Winter Fest, held Sunday, March 9, at the Southfield Sports Arena. The popular event featured a variety of family-oriented activities, including indoor ice skating, a high ropes course, a rock-climbing wall, carriage rides, electric car rides and nature programs sponsored by Oakland County Naturalists.
Happy Hour & Team Trivia
The Southfield City Centre Happy Hour & Team Trivia Networking event was held on March 27. Participants from many Southfield-based organizations gathered at Towne Square Food & Spirits to show their trivia talent.
“This event has proved to be favorite among our business community,” says Rochelle Freeman, Director of Business & Economic Development for the City of Southfield. “Employees bond and build relationships outside of their work environment and make professionals connections with employees from other Southfield companies.”
Register Today! Placemaking Through Landscape Design Camp
High school students interested in landscape design and architecture are encouraged to register for “Placemaking Through Landscape Design,” a Lawrence Technology University summer camp program created by Michigan area professionals to promote the field of landscape architecture. Students learn and create in a hands-on design studio and visit architecturally relevant projects on campus and in the cities of Southfield and Detroit.
The week-long camp, now in its 4th year, runs July 14 – 18, 2025. The camp is hosted by LTU in Southfield and organized by the Michigan Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, the City of Southfield and Southfield City Centre.
Registration deadline is July 1, 2025. To register, visit https://ltu.edu/summer-programs/
