The Saginaw County Parks and Recreation Commission was formed in 1969. The Commission currently manages six regional parks including the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail.
The first park acquired by the Commission was Imerman Memorial park, a 96 acre facility, located at 3495 Midland Road. Imerman Memorial Park resided on property that was originally part of a land grant given by President Jackson in 1835 to Andrew Ure, a Scotland native who came to the Saginaw Valley in 1883. In 1955, the Saginaw Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) raised $15,000 to purchase 85 Acres of Andrew Ure's farm. The amount raised for the purchase, included a $10,000 donation by friends and relatives to be given by Dr. Lewis Imerman as a memorial to his brother, Elliot, who died in 1949 at the age of 38. Elliot Imerman was a very conscientious citizen, active Democrat, lawyer, Circuit Court Commissioner, member of the military during World War II, Commander of American Legion Post #22, and President of the Saginaw Jaycees. In 1956, the Saginaw Jaycees deeded approximately 90 acres of property to Saginaw County for the development of Imerman Memorial Park. In 1970, the Commission undertook the development of Imerman Memorial Park. The majority of development in the park began after 1973, which included a self guiding nature trail, parking lots, pavilions, basketball and tennis courts, baseball diamond, sand volleyball courts, bathroom facilities, a children's play area and a boat launch with access to the Tittabawassee River.

The Commission acquired Veteran's Memorial Park, Located on M-13 between Saginaw and Bay City, from the Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation in 1974, Veteran's Memorial Park is the second of six County parks. It is a 35 acre parkway stretching over 1.5 miles along the Saginaw river in Zilwaukee Township. The park is popular with both anglers and boaters. A boat launch completed in 1982 provides an important boating access point midway between Saginaw and Bay City. The site once also accommodated a Historic Log Cabin which was built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

In 1940, James C. Price wrote a letter to Michigan State University, Stating he wanted to deed land to the MSU Board of Agriculture.

".... To assure it's continued use to the public for public purposes as a memorial to
my (Price) family."

MSU accepted the land and its Forestry Department used it for field studies and experiments. In 1971, the forest department at MSU announced its intent to sell the property to an agency which could better accommodate its evolving use as a park since many community groups were using Price for camping, picnicking, ect. And these uses were antagonistic to research and experiments conducted by the forestry department. In 1979, the Price Memorial Forest officially became part of the Saginaw County Parks System. Price Nature Center, a 186 acre natural area located at 6685 Sheridan , was opened to the public in 1981. Facilities at the park include" a picnic area with pavilion, children's play area, group camp ground, restrooms and 3.5 miles of hiking trails.
The following inscription is found on a bronze plaque at the main entrance to Ringwood Forest, located on Ring Road, two miles southwest of St. Charles:

"This land, originally part of the great pine forest of Michigan , was lumbered in 1862 by Eleaser J. Ring. Here one of the earliest forest plantations in the state was established in 1883, by his son, William Lee Ring, in whose memory his brother, Clark L. Ring, presented the tract to the University of Michigan in 1930 to be used henceforth for Instruction, demonstration and research in forestry."

After receiving the land in 1930, the University of Michigan began managing the forest resources of the site. Ringwood served the University as an experimental forest management area. The entire site is divided into 24 separate lots, each with different tree species or planting date. University records include separate histories for each of the plots detailing planting dates, thinning, and past cutting dates. Some portions of the original plantings of 1883 still remain. Because of the historical significance of being among the nation's first plantations, it was decided that these areas should be preserved and displayed to the public. In 1983, a 30 year lease was executed between the University of Michigan and the Saginaw County Parks and Recreation Commission and the park officially opened to the public June 1987. Facilities at the 160 acre park include 3.5 miles of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, educational displays, a canoe launch which accesses the Bad River, and a children's play area. The park includes a picnic pavilion donated by Brant Township in honor of a board member, Ed Federspiel.
The Commission acquired S-H Lake, originally a borrow pit created during the construction of I-675, in 1987. The park was named the William H. Haithco Recreation Area in honor of his 30 year commitment with the Commission. It is located at 2121 Schust. In 1988, the Michigan Wildlife Habitat Foundation and Michigan Department of Natural Recourses established a quality fishery in Haithco Lake with species including northern pike, sunfish, large and small mouth bass, perch and bluegill. This 76 acre park opened in May, 1991. Currently the facility include a 40 acre man-made lake, life guarded swimming beach, fishing piers, five pavilions, children's play area volleyball courts, paddleboat, rowboat and canoe rental, food concession and sailboard beach.
The Saginaw Valley Rail Trail covers 9.55 miles of abandoned rail corridor in Saginaw County, stretching from Lumberjack Park in St. Charles to Stroebel Road in James Township. The rail trail itself was the brainchild of Saginaw County resident Jim Garrett who rode horses on the abandoned railroad in the 1980's. He felt the quiet, scenic, and safe rail bed was a recreational path waiting to happen. Garrett jumped in, studied rails to trails projects, and learned not to take no for an answer. After 15 years of planning and patience, the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail has become a reality. "A rail trail involves a good amount of coordination among many parties," commented John Schmude, Director of the Saginaw County Parks Department which owns the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail. "In our case, we had to purchase the property from two different entities to begin with. After that we worked with grant sources, advisory committees, local governmental units, adjacent property owners, and other supporting groups to secure funding and develop a plan for our rail trail," added John. Now that feet and wheels have hit the path, nearly everyone would agree that it has all been worthwhile.

Funding for the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail has come from several public and private sources. Saginaw County has received two grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and two from the Michigan Department of Transportation. Locally, several foundations have supported the trail. The biggest supporters of the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail are the Friends of the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail, an official non-profit organization formed as an offshoot of the original advisory committee of the Saginaw County Parks Department. Initially, many of the approximately 200 landowners who have property adjacent to the trail were not ready to endorse the project. "Many of them had the misconception that rail trails serve as paths for vandalism, loitering, and mugging," explained Rob Eggers of Spicer Group, designer of the project. "We held three separate public meetings to describe our plans and then offered to meet individually with any landowner who had specific concerns."

The Saginaw Valley Rail Trail boasts three trailheads with that provide parking access to the trail. The Van Wormer Trail head on the corner of Van Wormer and Swan Creek Roads in Swan Creek Township also includes modern restrooms, picnic tables, pop machines, a water fountain and a tire pump. The Water Street Trailhead also includes an outhouse facility.

Not just a trail, this paved pathway is literally a cut above. The trail was designed with an intact tree canopy that provides a cooler place in the summertime then most local trails. Interpretive signs lead you through your outdoor journey teaching about area flora and fauna, wildlife wetlands and you can even learn how landfills work. Lucky trail users have been known to see white tailed deer, turtles, rabbits, geese and ducks. Clean and well maintained, there are three pocket parks and several benches along the trail offering a sheltered place to rest. For added scenery, this trail has seven bridges over various rivers and creeks and runs along the Shiawassee State Game Area. Equestrians also have a place on this trail. Trailer parking for equestrian users is available at the Van Wormer Road parking lot; from there equestrians can follow the equestrian trail signs either North or South for a quiet, challenging ride.

As if that wasn't enough, anglers can try their fortune at the handicapped accessible fishing dock on the Swan Creek just South on the trail from the Van Wormer Road parking lot.

The Saginaw Valley Rail Trail won the 2006 Michigan Recreation and Park Association Landscape Design Award.