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Broadway Park

800 Broadway St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104

734.794.6230

Overview

Broadway Park is a five acre park off Broadway Street along the Huron River, north of downtown. View the Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas Map for location context. The park space is mostly used as a fenced-in dog park, 1.37 acres in size, with separate areas for larger and smaller dogs. The park, nestled between the Huron River and the Kerrytown area, provides a green space with plenty of tall maple and oak trees. The park contains a sculpture made out of repurposed canoes entitled Turbine, which is part of the Canoe Imagine Art series. Broadway Park connects to Argo Park & Nature Area and Riverside Park via the Broadway Bridge.

The paved paths receive winter maintenance.

Park Notices

Unless otherwise posted per City Council resolution, when a park is closed, no person shall remain in or enter it other than to quietly sit or walk.

Smoking is prohibited

Refer to Chapter 39 of the City of Ann Arbor Code of Ordinances for park regulations and rules.

Park Hours

6 a.m. – Midnight

Amenities

Fenced Dog Park

Benches

Paved paths

Trash & Recycling

Access and Parking

There is no parking at the park. There is some street parking along Depot Street, down the stairs from the Broadway Bridge, which has sidewalks connecting to the park.

There are sidewalks along the Broadway Street bridge for foot access. All of the surrounding streets have sidewalks. There are no bike racks at the park.

The park is a short walk from Wheeler Park, Riverside Park, Argo Park & Nature Area, Longshore Park and Plymouth Parkway Park.

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Public Transportation

There is a bus stop just across the Broadway Bridge, a very short walk from the park. Visit TheRide for schedule and route details or check out the parks ride guide.

Park History

History

Ann Arbor's city parks sit on the ancestral and traditional homelands of several indigenous Native peoples. Read a land acknowledgement from the city and learn more about the early history of the land here.

The land that is now known as Broadway Park was acquired by the city. This was done mostly through condemnation of several properties from 1902 to 1915. Mayor Royal S. Copeland had a vision of a "green sward" of land along the river. In 1902, however, the land on both sides of the river was split between many owners and filled with junkyards and factories. The park was formally named "Riverside Park" in 1907, although that name did not stick. The park across the river became known as Riverside Park in 1934, a name it still carries. From around 1934 through 1973 the park was unofficially referred to as "Hobo Park." This was due to the hoboes that would arrive in Ann Arbor via the train station looking for work. The park was officially named Broadway Park in 1973. Read more about the history of Broadway and Riverside Parks in this Ann Arbor Observer article from the AADL.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the city struggled with maintaining the water levels just past the Argo Dam. This led to more erosion at Broadway Park and other areas along the Huron River. In one instance, two people in a canoe nearly died when their canoe was sucked through the dam in a sudden surge of water. An article from the Ann Arbor News in 1987 details efforts to manage the water levels. Today, canoers, kayakers and rafters float past Broadway Park after embarking from Argo Park.

In 2015 a sculpture entitled Turbine was installed in the park as part of the Canoe Imagine Art series. Turbine was created by by Missouri State Western University artists J. Neil Lawley, Heather Andrews, Jake Proffit, Dustin Lafromboise and Hausman Metal Works. This series includes four art pieces installed along the Huron River in Ann Arbor parks. All of the works are made out of old canoes from the Ann Arbor Liveries. These works of art were voted on by the public.

The fenced-in dog runs, which now make up most of the park's land usage, were built in 2016.

Helping your parks

Help Ann Arbor parks stay beautiful and welcoming to residents and visitors

Volunteering Opportunities

Join our team of volunteers and make a difference in your community! Whether you're interested in gardening, trail maintenance, event planning, or education, we have opportunities to fit your skills and interests.

Learn more about volunteering

Gifts & Donations

Looking for a way to give back to your local park? Consider making a gift or donation! Your generosity can help support maintenance and improvements to park facilities, as well as educational programs and community events.

Donate today

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