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Fritz Park

1450 Pauline Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103

734.794.6230

Overview

Fritz Park is a 5-acre gem on Pauline, between Seventh Street and Stadium Boulevard. View the Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas map for location context. The park is a connector to the larger Eberwhite Woods and Eberwhite Nature Area and creates a pleasant walk through the woods. Its ecosystem consists of mature oak-hickory woodland with an understory of diverse, native, ground flora. Near the middle of the park is a small mowed area with a playground. The park contains a play structure, picnic tables and grills. The play area in the middle of the park is surrounded by tall trees providing plenty of shade.

A total of 81 native plants have been recorded in the park. Flowers observed include black snakeroot, tall sunflower, May apple, white baneberry, bristly green brier, blue-stem goldenrod and woodland phlox. Shrubs found include maple-leaf arrowwood and red-osier dogwood and trees including ironwood, redbud and flowering dogwood.

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

Unpaved Trail

Playground

Picnic Tables

Landfill Bins

Access and Parking

There is street parking along Hewett Drive and Russell Road on the park's east side. There is a park entrance at the corner of Hewett and Russell. There is also street parking on Northwood Street on the park's western side which has an entrance to the park.

The park can be reached on foot and bicycle by walking and riding on the surrounding streets. Pauline Boulevard has bike lanes and sidewalks. There are no bike racks at the park.

Public Transportation

There is a bus stop next to the park on Pauline Boulevard. Visit TheRide for closest stops and route details or 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.

The land that is now Fritz Park was given to the city to be used as a public park in 1936. This land was given by Elsa Fritz DeFries, Jessie Fritz and John E. Fritz, who named the park after Michael J. Fritz, their uncle. Michael J. Fritz served on the park commission for over 20 years. The park had previously been known as the Ann Arbor Schutzenbund Park. It had been a historic meeting place for German-Americans. Read an article about the gift of the park from 1938, courtesy of the AADL. The park was in Ann Arbor Township until annexed by the City of Ann Arbor in 1948.

Fritz Park as seen from the air (from the northwest) in 1952 (Source: AADL)

Read a Natural Area Preservation newsletter article about the many native species in the park:

2003 Park Focus: Fritz Park by Maggie Hostetler

Volunteer in the parks

Looking to make an impact in a park or nature area? Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation provides volunteer opportunities for almost every interest, ability, and commitment level.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities

Park Finder

Discover parks and find amenities through the City of Ann Arbor Park Finder. This map allows you to search park names or search by amenity type or keyword.

View the Park Finder

A2Fix It - Service request tool

A2 Fix It is an online system you can use to report any maintenance issues or other problems during your park visit. When reporting an issue in a park please include detailed location information in the "details and description" section near the end of the request process. Pictures that provide location context are very helpful.

Submit a request