Spencer Park (or Thelma G. Spencer Park) is situated on 113 acres of land off of John R. Road between Auburn and South Blvd in Rochester Hills. My family has quite a personal history with Spencer Park. My husband was an avid visitor to the park even before we met and he even worked there for 2 summers as a college student. The park is very close to our home but we would make special efforts to go there even if we didn't live very close to it.

Click here for a photo gallery of Spencer Park in Rochester Hills.

Spencer Park itself reminds me of an HCMA park like Stony Creek or Metro Beach. Spencer Park has nearly all the amenities of Stony Creek only on a smaller, more intimate scale. It boasts a 38-acre spring-fed lake and beach area which is used for swimming, fishing, boat rentals (paddle and row), ice skating and ice fishing. The lake water at Spencer Park is impeccably clean and well-attended by lifeguards from Memorial Day-Labor Day weekend. The main beach house or office houses a concession stand. The Spencer Park concession stand items are priced very reasonably. A separate boathouse doubles as a rentable shelter for large gatherings and also has an attached pier for fishing. If the shelter is booked, they offer canopy shelters (also for rent). There is a modern playscape near the beach that is well-maintained. Spencer has sports fields, cross country ski paths, sand volleyball and tennis courts well within walking distance of the parking lot. There is an unpaved, 1-mile trail that goes the distance around the oval-shaped lake. It's a great way to measure your miles if you want to stay off of hard asphalt. There are a bountiful number of picnic tables at Spencer Park and there are no problems in getting one even on the busiest of days.

Spencer Park Winter Offerings
    * Ice skating (separate areas for hockey and open skating)  no equipment rentals
    * Ice fishing (DNR regulations apply)
    * Cross-country skiing (3 miles, non-groomed trails  no equipment rentals)
    * Heated shelter with fireplace
    * Heated restrooms
    * Table games
    * Concession area
    * Vending machines

Spencer Park's hours are from 10am-dusk. Daily Spencer Park rates are: $5 per resident and $10 for non (proof of residency is based on vehicle registration). Yearly passes are $30 for res and $60 for non-res. I've found they only charge at the booth from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. The annual park pass also gives you free access to Bloomer. Click here for more info on Spencer Park rates. For shelter rental information for Spencer or Bloomer Parks click here.

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