Summertime in Stockbridge—A great time to enjoy the outdoors

by Matt Pegouskie

Summer in Stockbridge is just around the corner! In recent years, Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition (SAWC) has worked with various partners within the Stockbridge Community School District borders to make it easier to add physical activity and fresh foods into residents’ warm weather adventures. 

Here’s a short list of local places and events you can check out this summer to move more and eat better. All are supported through SAWC grants and programs.

Move more

• Beckwith Preserve: Nature trails, benches.
• Be Fit 5k: Family-friendly 5k, June 20 (coincides with Stockbridge’s A Day in the Village), register at runsignup.com/Race/MI/Stockbridge/PositivelyChiropracticBeFit5kFunRun.
• Munith Community Park: Playground equipment, covered pavilion, basketball court, little library, bike repair station, access to Mike Levine Lakelands Trail State Park.
• Mike Levine Lakelands Trail State Park: Access to trail, playground, restroom, equestrian trailer parking, bike repair station, basketball court.
• Stockbridge Veterans Park: Playground, basketball courts, pump track, skate park, covered pavilions, sand volleyball, pickleball and tennis courts, bike repair station, walking path, restrooms.
• Unadilla Township Community Park: Ballfield, covered pavilion, playground, walking track, story walk.
• Unadilla Township Hall Playground (across from Township Hall): playground, ballfields.
• Village of Stockbridge Parks and Recreation: Offering a variety of activities at Veterans Park and other locations within the village. Follow the Village at facebook.com/StockbridgeMI/ for up-to-date information.

Eat better

• Open Air Market of Stockbridge: Friday nights, May through Mid-October, from 4-7 p.m. The market currently meets on the Township Square and will move when construction begins on the roads adjacent to the square. For more information, follow the market on facebook at facebook.com/OpenAirMarketofStockbridge/.
• 5 Healthy Towns Farm to Table Fabulous Feast: Sunday, September 13, 4-6 p.m. Grass Lake County Park. All proceeds from the event go back to support local farmers markets in the 5 Healthy Towns area, including the Stockbridge Open Air Market. Visit 5healthytowns.org for ticket information.

May Meeting Recap: Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition

Eleven members of Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition met on May 19 to hear updates on projects currently underway or recently concluded and to vote on several grant proposals. The following people shared updates on particular projects:

• Rachel Stanley: The Stockbridge Area Senior Center.
• David Rowse: Several projects involving the schools, including trail maintenance, soccer infrastructure, and the school running club.
• Matt Pegouskie: Safe Routes to School Planning.
• Wendy Walz: Upgrades to Munith Community Park.
• Heather Armstrong and Debbie Prigge: The Village’s growing Parks and Recreation programming.
• Jo Mayer: Community Outreach’s Meal of the Month program.
• Stacey Glemser: The 2025 Market Bucks program. 

The coalition also recommended four projects or sponsorships for funding from 5 Healthy Towns Foundation. These included project grants for the 2026 Open Air Market of Stockbridge Market Bucks program ($2500) and summer programming for the Village’s Parks and Recreation department ($1700).  A $750 sponsorship for Diaper Bank support and a $500 sponsorship for the 2026 Farm to Table dinner were also approved.

The next SAWC meeting will be July 21 at 4:30 p.m. at Stockbridge Village Hall.

Bridge to Wellness is sponsored by the Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition (SAWC). Matt Pegouskie is the community investment manager.