Park Address: 3670 Margaret Dr, Ann Arbor MI 48104
Hours and Rules
Park is open 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Refer to Chapter 39 of the City of Ann Arbor Code of Ordinances for park regulations and rules. Contact park rentals for policies and rules related to rentals and special uses. Visitors must always refer to posted park signage in the park. Smoking is prohibited and dogs must be on leash.
Overview
Sylvan Park is a 12 acre park, including 5 acres of oak-hickory forest, located at the southeast corner of Ann Arbor near Washtenaw Avenue and US-23. View the Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas map for location context. Yost Boulevard divides the park into two parcels. All of the activities and
walking trails are located on the east parcel. There is a park map and landfill waste bin located at the Margaret Drive park entrance. A paved walking path leads to a tennis court and playground space with two benches. Further south an open field is present between homes and Swift Run Creek. The paved path ends at a wooden bridge taking you over Swift Run Creek. An natural foot path leads into Sylvan Woods. Before reaching the path through Sylvan woods, a picnic hill provides two picnic areas with a picnic table and charcoal grill. Sylvan Park provides the mix of open park space and natural areas, all in the midst of neighborhoods and highway exchanges. To read more about Sylan Park, view the Natural Area Preservation feature article from 2018,
Park Focus: Sylvan Park by Chris Robey.
Access and Parking
Street parking is available at the entrance on Margaret Drive. There are also access points into the park off of Eli Drive (street parking) and Burton Road (street parking). The southern portion of the park property that follows the Swift Run creek does not have designated access points. The southern portion can be accessed by following the creek.
Public Transportation
There are AATA bus stops on both sides of Washtenaw avenue that provide access to Sylvan Park. Traveling Eastbound the (Washtenaw + Pittsfield) stop is a 7 minute walk. Traveling Westbound the
(Washtenaw + Pittsfield) is a 9 minute walk. Check out The Ride Guide for more details.
Amenities
Tennis court
Tot Lot Playground with two benches
Three picnic tables, two with grills close by
Short unpaved hiking trail through 5 acres of Sylvan woods
Landfill receptacle available at Margaret Dr. entrance
No public restrooms available
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 with many levels of commitment. Natural Area Preservation has volunteer opportunities to help protect and restore Ann Arbor’s natural areas and to foster an environmental ethic within the community.
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 hard 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. Users can also utilize the pin (website) or X (mobile app) feature to provide specific location information inside the park. Please consider including a wide angle photo, 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. If you have a park improvement idea, 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.
In June 1960, the City of Ann Arbor Development Committee approved the plats of Pittsfield Hills Subdivision. At the same time, the city accepted the outlots A, B, and D (3 acres) for park and playground. 1.07 additional acres were added in 1961.
In 1970, Ann Arbor reached an agreement to purchase the Sylvan Woods area in the Forest Brooke subdivision for $25,000. Due to the significance of its preservation, residents of the Sylvan Woods area
pledged $10,461 towards the purchase price.
