Park Address: 2665 White Oak Dr, 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
White Oak Park is a small three acre park located in the Newport Hills subdivision bordered by White Oak Drive and Pin Oak Drive, in the far northwest of the city. View the Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas Map for location context. The park is mostly wooded natural area, with a path running through the park and a small play structure nestled in the shady woods. The park also contains benches and a picnic table. Some non-invasive plant species found in the park include deptford pink, curly dock, white vervain, Virginia knotweed, clearweed and wood sorrel.
Access and Parking
Street parking is available along both White Oak Drive and Pin Oak Drive, and there are access points on each street. An unpaved path cuts through the park between the two streets.
The park is accessible on foot and bicycle using the surrounding neighborhood streets, but there are no bike racks at the park and no bike lanes or sidewalks along nearby Newport Road.
Public Transportation: There is a bus stop at the corner of White Oak and Newport, about a 3 minute walk from the park. Visit The Ride for closest stops and route details or check out the parks ride guide.
Amenities
- Play area with structure, view asset map for amenity locations
- Benches
- Picnic table
- Unpaved trail
Volunteer
There are ongoing and limitless 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. Natural Area Preservation also has volunteer opportunities that support their mission to protect and restore Ann Arbor's natural areas and to foster an environmental ethic within the community. 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. 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
The park was set aside as a green space and acquired by the city in 1991 when the Newport Hills subdivision was developed. In 2003, public input was solicited from the neighbors regarding developing the park, and in 2004 park improvements were made. A single path running east to west was created along with benches, a picnic table and a small play structure. These improvements cost about $34,000 in total.
Read a Natural Area Preservation (NAP) Newsletter detailing the park's history and the efforts of park stewards to curtail the invasive species within:
Winter 2014-2015 Park Focus: White Oak Park by Kristen Schotts
Park Stewards
Park Stewards are experienced volunteers who have adopted a nature area to protect and restore while fostering an environmental ethic among others. Stewards are committed to ongoing and long-term care of their park. They work with NAP to develop an annual workplan that outlines restoration goals and techniques for their natural area.
Richard Geglio
Richard has been working as a steward in the park since 2014. Living next to a nature area, he has always enjoyed peering into the natural setting. Over time the desire grew to restore it to its original beauty. He was fortunate to have a neighbor who felt the same, so they teamed up to take on the project. Over the next few years, they removed most invasive plants allowing the area to repopulate with natives. The project has given Richard an appreciation for the beauty and complexity of natural areas.
Updated August 2022. Email [email protected]a2gov.org for incorrect/outdated information.
