Hours and Rules
Open 6 a.m.-midnight with quiet hours beginning at 10 p.m. 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. 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
Stapp Nature Area is a 8.11-acre natural area located on Huron Parkway, north of Plymouth Road. View the Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas Map for location context. The nature area has rustic trails that meander through a mature oak-history forest, as well as as a small vernal
pool with great frog and toad habitat. The
diversity of large trees in such a small area is what makes the nature area remarkable,
with species such as white, black, and bur oaks; shagbark, bitternut, and
pignut hickories, as well as red maple, black walnut, white ash, and slippery
elm. A walking trail connects Stapp Nature Area to Tuebingen Park. Stapp Nature area is adjacent to the Leslie Golf Course and Traverwood branch of the Ann Arbor Public Library.
Access and Parking
There is limited street parking along Huron Parkway and Traverwood Drive in front of the AADL Traverwood Branch. There is also street parking on Traver Boulevard which is a short walk from the park. Refer to posted signage regarding parking rules and restrictions.
There are three park trailheads that can all be accessed on foot. One trailhead starts at
Huron Pkwy., in the northeast corner of the park. Another starts in the southeast side off of Traverwood Dr., and the third leads from Tuebingen Park into the northwest corner of the park.
There are sidewalks but no bike lanes along Huron Pkwy. and Traverwood Dr. There are no bike racks at the park.
Nearby city parks include Tuebingen Park (which connects to the northwest corner of Stapp), Traver Creek Nature Area to the northwest, and Leslie Woods Nature Area to the southwest.
Public Transit: There are two bus stops within walking distance of Stapp Nature Area. The closest bus stop is at the intersection of Tuebingen and Lancashire, less than a 5 minute walk from the northern trail entrance off of Huron Pkwy. The second closest bus stop is at the corner of Huron Pkwy. and Traverwood Dr. Visit The Ride for closest stops and route details or check out the parks ride guide.
Using a phone? - Click for a GPS Tracker and Wayfinding Map
Amenities
Volunteer
There are ongoing and limitless opportunities for volunteering and getting engaged with the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services Unit. Natural Area Preservation has volunteer opportunities that support their mission to protect and restore Ann Arbor's natural areas and to foster an environmental ethic among within the community. If you are feeling the call to volunteer or give some time, reach out or explore the website 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. 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. For special projects ideas in natural areas, Natural Area Preservation staff will guide you and provide project guidelines unique to natural areas.
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 now comprises Stapp Nature Area was sold to the city in November, 2003, by the First Martin
Corporation. William Martin, the previous owner, wished to name the
new park after William B. Stapp, PhD. Dr. Stapp served
as Professor at the School of Natural Resources and
Environment at the University of Michigan, where he
founded and then chaired the Environmental Education
program from 1970 to 1993. He is considered by many
to be the founder of international environmental education because he developed education programs in 135
countries. In Ann Arbor, Dr. Stapp began a monitoring
program involving high schools along the Huron River. The program evolved into the Global Rivers
Environmental Education Network (GREEN), which is now being
carried out all over the world. This program brings
diverse groups together to investigate and protect river
water quality. Dr. Stapp’s ability to serve as a global environmental diplomat brought Israelis and Palestinians
together to test their shared water sources, creating a
model for Middle East cooperation.
Updated November 2022. Email
[email protected] for incorrect/outdated information.
