HomeMichiganOkemos › Central Park South

Central Park South

4.7 ★★★★★ 179 Google reviews · Running trail in Okemos, Michigan · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Central Park South's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

MixedOpen 24hScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADA

Park featuring a fishing pond, plus a dog park, picnic areas and ball fields.

What runners say about Central Park South

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (179 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Paths & ball fields are well maintained.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“It's a great park, with beautiful winding trails, a lovely little preserved historical town, and a new boardwalk through the bog.”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 4 mentions

“The best place for dog walking in Meridian Township.”

Millie and I stopped to kill some time while the wife was getting some work done at the dentist. I am highly impressed with the small dog park which we couldn't use because we weren't registered (not at all made about). The park is pretty big and the trails are nice and well cared for.

★★★★★ — Pink , Oct 2023

Beautiful park in Meridian Twp. It provides Natural trails in the woods, accessible paved paths, dog parks, lakes for fishing, The trail network connects the parks in vicinity, sports fields and diamonds, the Historical Village, the Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center, and delightful outdoor summer concerts. A real gem!

★★★★★ — Radka , Apr 2023

Awesome well maintained scenic park with an overlook on a clean quite drainage pond with fish and turtles, paved trails teaming with wildlife , large dog park connected some sort of paid membership is needed that gives you a key card to get in I've heard. Some trails are paved and some are mowed grass paths.

★★★★★ — Brandon , Jun 2022

What a great hidden gem in Meridian Township! If you didn't know it was there you might miss it. Tucked away behind the Meridian Mall, and Market on the Green, this is a very large trail system with bridges and a mix of rustic & paved trails.

★★★★★ — Matt , Jun 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 179 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🐕 Dog-friendly 17 mentions

“The dogs like this park, too, and since the trails are wide, it's a good place to walk where we don't feel crowded trying to move them to the side when other people pass us.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 11 mentions

“Tucked away behind the Meridian Mall, and Market on the Green, this is a very large trail system with bridges and a mix of rustic & paved trails.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“It's a great park, with beautiful winding trails, a lovely little preserved historical town, and a new boardwalk through the bog.”

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🪵 Boardwalk 5 mentions

“It's a great park, with beautiful winding trails, a lovely little preserved historical town, and a new boardwalk through the bog.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“Good picnic or hammocking spot, too The whole park is on very muddy land, and especially in spring/fall when the snow melts there is regularly standing water all over the place.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 2 mentions

“Easily accessible and parking lots at trailheads.”

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Plan your run at Central Park South

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Central Park South

1990 Central Park Dr, Okemos, MI 48864

Get directions

Running trails near Okemos

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Nancy Moore Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 352 reviews

Haslett, MI

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Green space with a play equipment, trails & areas for baseball, basketball, volleyball & soccer.

under a mile away

Wonch Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 174 reviews

Okemos, MI

PavedScenic

Relaxed grassy area with a playground, an exercise area and riverfront views.

1.3 miles away

Brattin Woods

4.6 ★★★★★ 27 reviews

East Lansing, MI

Natural surface

1.4 miles away

Sander Farm Preserved Natural Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 25 reviews

Okemos, MI

1.7 miles away

Red Cedar Natural Area

4.5 ★★★★★ 30 reviews

East Lansing, MI

2.3 miles away

Towner Road Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 106 reviews

Haslett, MI

ScenicDog-friendly

Park with picnic tables, baseball fields, and facilities for tennis and pickleball, plus a public restroom and walking trails.

2.4 miles away

All running trails in Okemos, MI →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.