Park Address: 2106 Steeplechase Dr, Ann Arbor MI 48103
Hours and Rules
Open 6 a.m.-midnight with quiet hours beginning at 10 p.m. Refer to Chapter 39 of the City of Ann Arbor Code of Ordinances for park regulations and rules. Smoking is prohibited, and dogs must be on leash.
Overview
Churchill Downs Park is a 1.18-acre neighborhood park tucked away between houses and I-94 in southwest Ann Arbor off of Steeplechase Drive near Scio Church Road. View the Ann Arbor Parks & Nature Areas Map for location context. The park contains a play area, benches, a half basketball court, open grass fields, a drinking fountain, picnic table and grill. Churchill Downs is connected to Eisenhower Park, which has a new trail that was finished in November 2022 that connects the parks further south through the neighborhood. The park has a gravel path, also constructed in 2022 as part of a massive stormwater basin project, which connects the park and the playground area directly to the sidewalk along Scio Church to the north.
Access and Parking
The park's main entrance is off of Steeplechase Drive, and there is parking along the street.
The park is accessible by foot and bicycle using the surrounding neighborhood streets, which all have sidewalks. Nearby Scio Church Road has sidewalks and a bike lane. There are no bike racks at the park.
The has a gravel path connecting to the sidewalk along Scio Church Road. The park connects to the Eisenhower Park trail which goes through Eisenhower and connects to Churchill Drive and Dundee Drive.
Public Transportation: There is a bus stop on Scio Church near Steeplechase, less than a 5 minute walk from the park. Visit The Ride for schedule and route details or check out the parks ride guide.
Using a phone? - Click for a GPS Tracker and Wayfinding Map
Amenities
- Playground with structure, sandbox and swings, including tot bucket swings
- Half basketball court
- Benches and picnic table
- Drinking fountain
- Landfill receptacle
- Trail connections to Scio Church Road and Eisenhower Park


Volunteer
There are many opportunities for volunteering and getting engaged with the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services Unit. GIVE 365 and the seasonal Adopt-a-Park Program offer volunteer opportunities ranging from a 90-minute commitment to a more long term ongoing role. If you are feeling the call to volunteer or give some time, reach out or explore the websites above to see what’s upcoming or how to get involved.
Report a Problem - A2 Fix It
To report any maintenance issues or other problem during your park visit, please report through A2Fix It. Keep in mind that parks are large spaces and A2 Fix It requests can be difficult to find without detailed information. When reporting an issue in a park please include location details. There is a details and description section near the end of the request process to help you provide this. In addition, users can utilize the pin (website) or X (mobile app) feature to provide specific location information inside the park. Finally, please consider including a wide angle photo or include background landmarks, which helps staff find and fix the problem.
Gifts and Donations
Information on donating to the parks and the Guide to Giving can be found here. Alternatively if you have a special project or park improvement idea that you want to donate your time and energy toward, a great place to start is through Adopt-a-Park and the proposing a special park project guide. For information on donating a tree through Adopt-a-Park, the tree donation guide can help you get started.
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 park was acquired by the city around 1970. A new play area was installed in 2018.
In 2022 the park was closed for several months while the city worked on a $3.2 million project to create a new stormwater management basin in the park along Scio Church Road, which was designed to protect nearby neighborhoods against flooding. The construction also included a new unpaved path connecting the park to Scio Church Road. The construction was finished in November 2022. See more details about the project here. A trail connecting to the park through Eisenhower Park was also finished in the same month.
Updated January 2023. Email [email protected] for incorrect/outdated information.