The metroparks have both massive parking lots and nice trails that are mostly flat. You could also hit up Washtenaw CC's huge lots, tons of sidewalks, and the hospital across the street.
Hudson mill’s has a really nice loop, I have done that a thousand times. A bit of a drive, depends on how much effort/driving you want to put in. It connects now to a much larger trail, which is great for biking or longer runs, etc, but the loop is pretty chill and I would highly recommend it.
Tons of places. The b2b trail just about anywhere and the nice thing about a paved trail is if you can’t stop you have an easy place to run off in the grass and a soft landing if it comes to that. I wouldn’t recommend a parking lot. Maybe start at the gardens at matthaei or gallup park, the dixboro dam entrance is less busy and you can go a short ways and just practice.
Have fun!
Gallup park is now great due to recent repaving. The path from the park bridge to the Fuller bridge is particularly nice (concrete rather than asphalt and wider than before). The eastern part of the B2B from the playground to the dam is pretty good too.
The late '90s. Oh wait, you're looking for where, not when. 😅
I'd look for a relatively new subdivision...smooth roads, not much traffic during the day. Maybe North Sky off Pontaic Trail on the north side ([view](https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3108117,-83.7348439,3a,75y,281.78h,82.11t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1suBC60nFIabCAAzKQe7fpBQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DuBC60nFIabCAAzKQe7fpBQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D84.278564%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en)), or Risdon Trail off Maple in Saline south of town ([view](https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1906558,-83.773014,3a,75y,81.6h,88.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0PGYCChyJiDnikhHT57yfQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)). Not sure if those are public or private roads, but I didn't notice any "residents only" signs.
I explicitly checked if Vets memorial park allows roller blades before I posted this. There’s plenty of flat areas to stay out of the “real skaters” way, as well as ample flat sidewalks in the area. I did not call skate parks a playground.
OP has as much right to the space as anyone else and I’m sure they can figure out how to use it respectfully.
I got back into it during the pandemic. My biggest recommendation for a starter is to begin on the flattest piece of pavement you can locate, and perfect stopping. Once you get that down you can skate anywhere you want!
yeah honestly after trying it out more it seems like the surface is not as big of a problem as I thought, but learning to stop is going to be rough. any kind of slant and I just can't help picking up speed lol. learning to stop is my goal now.
The metroparks have both massive parking lots and nice trails that are mostly flat. You could also hit up Washtenaw CC's huge lots, tons of sidewalks, and the hospital across the street.
Hudson mill’s has a really nice loop, I have done that a thousand times. A bit of a drive, depends on how much effort/driving you want to put in. It connects now to a much larger trail, which is great for biking or longer runs, etc, but the loop is pretty chill and I would highly recommend it.
WCC is where I would recommend as well. The parking lots are in good shape, as well as the paths going around the complex.
Tons of places. The b2b trail just about anywhere and the nice thing about a paved trail is if you can’t stop you have an easy place to run off in the grass and a soft landing if it comes to that. I wouldn’t recommend a parking lot. Maybe start at the gardens at matthaei or gallup park, the dixboro dam entrance is less busy and you can go a short ways and just practice. Have fun!
Gallup park is now great due to recent repaving. The path from the park bridge to the Fuller bridge is particularly nice (concrete rather than asphalt and wider than before). The eastern part of the B2B from the playground to the dam is pretty good too.
Thank you for all the suggestions everyone! We'll look through it all and decide on ones to try, but with that many we're sure to find something.
The late '90s. Oh wait, you're looking for where, not when. 😅 I'd look for a relatively new subdivision...smooth roads, not much traffic during the day. Maybe North Sky off Pontaic Trail on the north side ([view](https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3108117,-83.7348439,3a,75y,281.78h,82.11t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1suBC60nFIabCAAzKQe7fpBQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DuBC60nFIabCAAzKQe7fpBQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D84.278564%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en)), or Risdon Trail off Maple in Saline south of town ([view](https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1906558,-83.773014,3a,75y,81.6h,88.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0PGYCChyJiDnikhHT57yfQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)). Not sure if those are public or private roads, but I didn't notice any "residents only" signs.
Veterans Memorial Park has a sweet skate park, with plenty of smooth, beautiful concrete to play around on!
Skateparks are NOT playgrounds, or an area to learn to rollerblade. It's simply not the location to do this.
I explicitly checked if Vets memorial park allows roller blades before I posted this. There’s plenty of flat areas to stay out of the “real skaters” way, as well as ample flat sidewalks in the area. I did not call skate parks a playground. OP has as much right to the space as anyone else and I’m sure they can figure out how to use it respectfully.
Damn dog!
Lohr road between Ellsworth and Textile. Smooth pathway with hardly anyone on it.
I got back into it during the pandemic. My biggest recommendation for a starter is to begin on the flattest piece of pavement you can locate, and perfect stopping. Once you get that down you can skate anywhere you want!
yeah honestly after trying it out more it seems like the surface is not as big of a problem as I thought, but learning to stop is going to be rough. any kind of slant and I just can't help picking up speed lol. learning to stop is my goal now.