Park Address: 275 Eighth St, 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
Waterworks Park is a 1.48-acre park located between 7th and 8th streets and Liberty and Washington streets, just west of downtown. View the Ann Arbor Parks & Nature Areas Map for location context. Waterworks is a neighborhood park that gives a pleasant space to enjoy the outdoors near downtown. There are large trees providing an attractive canopy and plenty of shade. The park contains picnic tables, a small play area, benches and an asphalt path connection between the two streets.
Access & Parking
There is street parking on 8th Street on the west side of the park. The street parking directly in front of the park becomes a towaway zone with no parking on school days during the day. Refer to signs on the street.
The park is accessible on foot by walking on sidewalks along the nearby streets, and on bicycle by riding on the local streets. There are bike lanes on 7th Street. There are no bike racks at the park.
Public Transportation: There are plenty of bus stops nearby on Huron Street and Liberty Street. The nearest stop is only a 3 to 4 minute walk. 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 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 land that is Waterworks Park was acquired in 1927.
Allen's Creek runs underneath Waterworks Park. The creek was put underground in the 1920s. The park was originally home to a small pond where the creek widened out. Read more about the history of Allen's Creek here.
In 1938, kids make crafts in Waterworks Park (photo below from oldnews.aadl.org).
During the 1970s and 1980s, the Western Kiwanis Club provided many improvements to the park, including the first play equipment in 1978. Read the Western Kiwanis's history of Involvement for more details on their service and projects.
The asphalt path going through the park was first constructed in 1974-75.
