Park Address: 752 Packard St, Ann Arbor MI 48104
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, alcohol is prohibited, and dogs must be on leash.
Overview
Forsythe Park is a small 1/3 acre park located on the southern edge of downtown at the corner of Packard Street and Arch Street. View the Ann Arbor Parks & Nature Areas Map for location context. It is a convenient cut-through for students on their way to and from the University of Michigan's main campus, as well as a place to unwind. The sculpture centerpiece is called Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, and it is created from I-beams and incorporates the water fountain as part of the piece. The plaza is lit, and has large trees with picnic tables and benches. In the corner of the park is a basketball half court.
Access and Parking
The park has multiple access points along both Packard Street and Arch Street. There is limited street parking available on Arch on both sides of Packard, as well as other nearby streets. Refer to posted signage regarding parking rules and restrictions.
The park is accessible by foot and bicycle using the surrounding streets. Packard has sidewalks and bike lanes. There are no bike racks at the park.
Public Transportation: There is a bus stop immediately acjacent to the park. Visit The Ride for schedule and route details or check out the parks ride guide.
Amenities
- Half basketball court
- Benches and picnic tables
- Drinking fountain
- Landfill receptacles
- Paved paths with winter maintenance
- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle sculpture
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.
In 1974, the City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Unit purchased an abandoned gas station at this site with the intention of creating a park. It was referred to as the Packard/Arch Park until 1980 when it was renamed for Franklin C. Forsythe. Forsythe was the founder and the first president of the Ann Arbor Jaycees. The site was acquired using a HUD (federal) grant for “in-city parks” and the design was a cooperative effort between the city, the Jaycees, the Burns Park Community Association and the city’s parks and recreation unit. The park has been adopted by the Ann Arbor Jaycees and several members of the Jaycees spearheaded the drive to name the park after Forsythe. He was at the ribbon cutting in 1980, a year before he died.
Forsythe was an Ann Arbor attorney and President of the YMCA (1943) in addition to his work with the Jaycees. In the 1940s he lived at 1601 Granger. His wife was Jessie and his children were Peter and J. Michael. In 1956 his mid-century modern house at 500 Barton Shore Drive, designed by local architect Bob Metcalf, was featured in the Ann Arbor News. His wife was a University of Michigan graduate and in 1949 established the Forsythe Gallery (for art) in the Nickels Arcade. It was open until the mid-1980s.
Updated November 2022. Email [email protected] for incorrect/outdated information.
