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 became South University Park was originally a lot that had two houses on it which had been abandoned by the owner. The park was acquired by the the city in the early 1970s, after neighbors had essentially developed the property into park space themselves. Leslie and Michael Morris helped make this process happen and helped convince the City of Ann Arbor to buy the land and bring it into the park system. Eventually Leslie Morris would be elected to Ann Arbor City Council and served from 1977-1983. She also served as a member of the Park Advisory Commission (PAC).
In 2012-2013, after soliciting public input, the park was updated, replacing outdated benches and a removing dilapidated kiosk and repaving the basketball court. These improvements cost approximately $43,000. Leslie and Michael Morris, who had helped the park come into existence, donated $50,000 to the city for the express purpose of renovating the park, and part of their gift was used to do so. Read more about the park's history and the Morris families contributions
here.
