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Veterans Memorial Park

2150 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48103

734.794.6230

Overview

Veterans Memorial Park is a 37-acre park that is one of the busiest recreation areas in the city. View the Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas map for location context. The park is named in honor of veterans of the United States military, commemorated by a memorial located at the southwest corner of the park. Veterans Memorial Park contains five baseball/softball fields, a pool and ice arena, the Ann Arbor Skatepark, tennis courts, rain gardens, a hill used for sledding in the winter, paths, and benches and picnic tables to relax and unwind. Pickleball stripping exists on one of the tennis courts. Please note, that this pickleball court requires you to bring your own net (contact Ann Arbor District Library for pickleball net rental information). View the parking guide below for parking options.

The paths in this park receive winter maintenance. This park is also a pickup spot in the winter for a sand/salt mixture to treat sidewalks.

The Ann Arbor Skatepark, a 30,000-foot world-class facility, is free and open to the public from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. New lights have been installed to provide extended use into the evening and early morning hours. This project was possible because of support from our partners at Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission and the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark. Testing is still underway, but the lights are currently available between 6-9 a.m. as well as 4:15-10 p.m. and can be turned on by one of two push buttons on site. This will provide an hour of light time and a flashing strobe light will indicate that 10 minutes are remaining before the lights shut off. At that time, the button can be pushed to activate the lights again up until the cut-off. The timing of the lights will be adjusted seasonally.

Skateboards, scooters and roller blades are all welcome at the skatepark which is designed for all levels and features kidney pools from 5 to 9.5 feet deep, a snake run, clover and flow bowls and a rock ride. View skatepark layout here. Bicycles are not allowed, but you can view bike recreation here if you are looking for where to ride your bike. The skatepark which opened in 2014, operates in partnership with the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark. Please view skatepark etiquette and park rules. Contact parks customer service for questions or special event information at the skatepark.

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.

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

Drinking Fountains

Playground

Restrooms

Skatepark

Grills

Picnic Tables

Baseball/Softball Fields

Tennis Courts

Trash & Recycling

Rain Gardens

Ice Arena

Pool

Sledding Hill

Paved Paths

Access and Parking

While there is one park address for Veterans Memorial Park (2150 Jackson Avenue), there are multiple entrances and parking lots located off of three different roads. Your navigation app may take you to a different spot than someone else's so if you are looking to meet up at the park, review the Veterans Memorial Park parking guide for parking lot details and amenity locations.

The park is accessible on foot as Dexter Avenue, Maple Road, and Jackson Avenue all have sidewalks. The park is accessible on bicycle by using bike lanes on Dexter Avenue and Jackson Avenue. There is a small bike rack at the Maple Road entrance and a larger bike rack at the pool and ice rink entrance.

Using a phone?

Open the Park Finder

Public Transportation

There are bus stops immediately adjacent to the park on Dexter Avenue and Jackson Avenue. The nearest stop to the pool and ice arena is on Jackson Avenue. The nearest stop to the skatepark and ball fields is on Dexter Avenue. Visit TheRide for schedule and route details and check out the parks ride guide.

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.

Veterans Memorial Park was originally the Washtenaw County Fairgrounds. This site served as the fairgrounds from 1922, when it moved from the land that became Burns Park, until 1951, when the land was purchased by the city for $127,500. The park was given the name Veterans Memorial Park in 1955 in honor of veterans of the U.S. military.

The Washtenaw County Fairgrounds, soon to become Veterans Memorial Park, 1955

Funds were approved for the first ball diamonds in 1958. Here is what one of the fields looked like in 1960. Lights were installed in 1961. All five diamonds, still present today, were completed by 1963 (renovated in 2012). The pool and ice arena facilities were added later in the 1960s. View "Winter Fun at Veterans Memorial Park, December 1966". The ice arena was an outdoor rink until 1973 when the rink was enclosed. There is a long history of baseball and softball being played at the park- a 1999 article from the Ann Arbor News called it "the place to play ball".

Baseball at the park, 1969

Recent Developments

The Ann Arbor Skatepark was opened in the park in 2014 after years of community advocacy. Tony Hawk and other professional skateboarders attended the grand opening ceremony.

A new memorial honoring U.S. veterans was added to the southwest corner of the park, visible from the corner of Jackson Avenue and Maple Road, in 2019. Funds were contributed by the American Legion Post 423 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Read more about the history and development of the park here. Check out more historical articles and photographs courtesy of the AADL here.

Active Adopters

Volunteers play a large role in helping with maintenance and beautification at Veteran's Memorial Park. The University of Michigan's chapter of American Nuclear Society has volunteered at Veteran's Memorial Park since 2017. They have worked on a variety of tasks including removing litter, planting flowers, weeding, mulching gardens and helping to facilitate fun events at the ice rink.

ANS @ Veterans Memorial.jpg

There is also a wonderful group of individuals committed to several volunteer projects at Veteran's Memorial Park who have adopted the garden at the corner of Jackson Avenue and Maple Road since 2020. They are also dedicated stewards at one of the park's many rain gardens. Ongoing maintenance needs that they help with include weeding, spreading mulch and advocating for park improvements.

Contact us if you or your group are interested in being an additional adopter at Veteran's Memorial Park to help with tasks including maintaining flower beds, picking up litter and invasive species removal. Email us at [email protected] or call 734.794.6445 for more information.

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.

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