Park Address: 375 Packard St, Ann Arbor MI 48104
Hours and Rules
Open 6 a.m. - midnight with quiet hours starting 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
Hanover Square Park is a half acre in size and is the oldest park in the city. This park plaza is located at the intersection of Packard and South Division on the edge of downtown and the University of Michigan's campus. View the
Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas map for location context. Hanover Square Park is a great little park for getting some shade on a hot summer day when walking or biking in downtown Ann Arbor.
Several large linden trees grace the park, along with more recently planted serviceberry trees and landscape planting beds. A large brick raised flowerbed faces the Packard and Division intersection. Grassy areas combine with wide paved walking areas. There are park benches, a bike rack, and a trash bin.
A sculpture entitled "Arbor Sapientiae," meaning 'Arbor Wisdom/Understanding', stands near the edge of the broad walkway crossing the park. This sculpture speaks to the university's education role melding with the city's support of the arts.
Access and Parking
There is no parking lot at the park, but there is
metered street parking on Division Street and other nearby streets.
The park is accessible on foot and bicycle by walking and biking along downtown streets. Packard Street and Division Street each have bike lanes, as do many streets in the downtown area. There is one bike loop at the park to secure bikes to.
Public Transportation
There is a
nearby bus stop on Thompson Street, about a five minute walk away. The park is also about a five minute walk from the
Blake Transit Center. Visit The Ride for closest stops and route details or check out the parks ride guide.
Amenities
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 with many levels of commitment.
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 hard 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. Users can also utilize the pin (website) or X (mobile app) feature to provide specific location information inside the park. Please consider including a wide angle photo, 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. If you have a park improvement idea, 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.
When is a square really a triangle? When it's Hanover Square Park in Ann Arbor morphing through time! Ann Arbor's oldest park was true to its name when first created some time between 1824 and 1836. The dedication of the land for use as a public park didn't take place until 1859. In 1925, a portion of the land was deeded to the Board of Education (for a property exchange), as the W.S. Perry school for girls that was next to the park had already been using that portion. These circumstances redrew the park's boundaries, turning its larger square into the current triangle.
Hanover Square in 1964
The park had play equipment and was used as a children's playground until 1968. At this time, the play equipment was removed, and it took shape as the grassy park that it is today. The "Arbor Sapientiae" sculpture, created by Ronald Bauer, was relocated to Hanover Square in 1984. The plaque at the sculpture was installed in 1986 with help from the artist.
Read a more detailed history of the park
here.
Email [email protected] for incorrect/outdated information.
