On September 1, city officials and Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller stood at the Sterling Relief Drain to open a new hike and bike path. Partway through the news conference, C&G Newspapers reported, they had to stop while a bicyclist rode past. "As soon as something like this opens, we find that the residents spot it," Mayor Michael Taylor said. "People find it."
That cyclist was riding along a stormwater channel, and that's the pattern behind the city's newest outdoor spaces. The new path follows the Sterling Relief Drain. Red Run Park, the next big park, sits on the Red Run. Both projects add places to walk along water the city already manages. The new Athletic Hub on Van Dyke covers the indoor side in the meantime, so the courts stay busy once the weather turns.
The new path follows a drain that handles about a fifth of the city's runoff
The Sterling Relief Drain carries stormwater and melting snow from about 20% of Sterling Heights. It runs south of Metropolitan Parkway, flowing west to east from west of Ryan Road to east of Schoenherr Road. The new natural-surface path opened on September 1 and connects Ryan Road to Nelson Park.
The path came out of a drainage project. Macomb County rebuilt this 1.2-mile section of the drain for about $1 million. Funding came from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Macomb County Public Works Office, the Sterling Relief Drain drainage board, and grants from DTE and Consumers Energy. The county "daylighted" the drain. Rebuilt manholes and modified inlets keep trash out of the enclosed pipe and keep runoff in an open channel, where it filters through thousands of newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials. The county invited Sterling Heights to fund the trail.
Miller explained the idea in plain terms at the opening:
"We let Mother Nature become the sponge that she is naturally. And by doing that, we actually remove thousands of pounds of phosphorous, thousands of pounds of nitrogen, sedimentation ... all of these things that end up flowing down this Sterling Relief Drain into the Red Run drain, or right out into the Clinton River, and of course, out into our beautiful Lake St. Clair."
C&G's account of the event carries that quote. Her route is also a handy map of the city's newest open space. Following the water downstream, from C&G's description of the drain:
- The drain starts west of Ryan Road, where the new path now links Ryan Road with Nelson Park.
- It continues through the stretch between Van Dyke and Schoenherr, which was the first phase of daylighting, finished in 2020.
- East of Schoenherr, it meets the Red Run behind Freedom Hill County Park.
- Miller traces the drain's runoff on into the Red Run or the Clinton River, and eventually Lake St. Clair.
Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Langlois said the trail creates "an important new connection for residents to walk, run and bike safely through our community" and opens the way to "a broader trail network." The next piece of that network is on the Red Run itself.
Red Run Park puts the next piece on the water
The city broke ground on Red Run Park on May 5. The city has owned the land for years, and the work is paid for by the voter-approved Pathway to Play and Preservation millage of 0.95 mills. The park is in the southern part of the city, near Red Run Road and Moravian Drive, north of 14 Mile and west of Schoenherr. C&G describes the site as sitting across the Red Run from Baumgartner Park on 15 Mile. The city says the park is meant to fill a gap in neighborhood park access in that part of town, and planning started in 2023.
The city's groundbreaking announcement lists these planned features:
- Six lighted pickleball courts, which the city says will "extend seasonal play"
- A dog park, which the city says expands dog park access on the east side
- A lighted basketball court and interior non-motorized trails
- A 24-hour public library kiosk
- A rentable pavilion and gathering spaces
- A year-round restroom building with an adult changing station
- A dinosaur-themed play structure with enhanced accessibility features
The water connection is where this ties back to the drain path. The city calls Red Run Park a key piece in finishing the final segment of the Iron Belle Trail. The project's engineering firm, Spalding DeDecker, describes a link to the statewide Iron Belle Trail and a pedestrian bridge over the Red Run Drain to Baumgartner Park and nearby pathways. C&G reported the bridge as a future plan, so for now it's planned, not built.
About timing: the city's posted target is "late fall 2026, weather permitting." In May, the Macomb Daily reported a tentative opening in late October or early November. No ribbon-cutting date has been announced, so treat either one as a target. The city posts project updates at sterlingheights.gov/pathways.
Six lighted outdoor courts help most in spring. For the cold months before then, the city has already built the indoor option.
Until then, the courts are indoors on Van Dyke
The Sterling Heights Athletic Hub is at 35630 Van Dyke Avenue, just north of 15 Mile Road. It opened for public play on Monday, July 13, two days after its grand-opening celebration. C&G's coverage of Taylor's September 25 State of the City address listed it among the year's notable developments and described it as a $10 million pickleball and table tennis complex. Inside are nine pickleball courts, six table tennis tables and a multipurpose Rally Room. The city runs it through Parks and Recreation.
For residents, drop-in play costs nothing. Here are the costs as the Macomb Daily reported them in July:
| Use | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-in play, per day | Free | $5 |
| Pickleball court reservation, weekday hour | $11 | $14 |
| Pickleball court reservation, weekend hour | $14 | $22 |
If you went to the Hub over the summer, note that the schedule has changed. The early hours ended at 5 p.m. on some days. The city's fall guide now lists 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. That means weeknight play after work is possible all season. In July, C&G reported plans for fall beginner pickleball classes, plus leagues for men, women, mixed doubles, youth and players 50 and older. Registration for current sessions goes through the city's Athletic Hub page.
Nine indoor courts on Van Dyke are open now, and six lighted outdoor courts on the Red Run arrive once that park opens. Between them, the city has pickleball covered whatever the weather.
Linking it all up this fall
The city has a structured way to visit the growing network before the leaves are gone. The Trailblazer Challenge sends you to 30 parks, trails and green spaces around Sterling Heights. You take a photo at each stop and collect a sticker in a passport. If you finish all 30, you become an official Trailblazer Finisher and are entered in a quarterly prize drawing. Dogs can join through a Furry Trailblazer registration. Sign-up is in person at the Sterling Heights Community Center. The new Ryan Road to Nelson Park path makes a good walk to add along the way.
On rainy afternoons, the Sterling Heights Nature Center has fall programs including candle making, fall wreath making, Animal Athletes, Pumpkin Pandemonium and nature jewelry making. You can also just drop in. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Over the next few weeks, walk the drain path while the weather holds, head to the Hub when it gets cold, and check the city's Pathways page for word on when Red Run Park opens.
I've watched Sterling Heights grow for more than three decades, and I like seeing new trails and courts go in close to where people live. If you're curious how something like Red Run Park could affect your part of town, or you just want to talk about the neighborhood, I'm happy to chat with no pressure at all. Jim Lawson is always glad to hear from neighbors. Let's Connect.
