Bandemer Park is a 38 acre natural area and park along the Huron River, west of the Argo Pond. View the Ann Arbor Parks and Natural Areas map for location context. The park has two main entrances with parking lots available at each. Bandemer Park features paved and unpaved trails through the main body of the park, restrooms, benches, accessible canoe dock, fishing dock, disc golf course, shelter, picnic areas, and grills. For information about renting a pavilion or the fire pit, contact Park Rentals. The Argo Pond walking loop highlighted here features the central attraction at Argo Nature Area and Bandemer- the Huron River. Bandemer is also where you will find one of Ann Arbor's dirt bike jump courses located here. Bandemer Park is on Washtenaw County's Border-to-Border (B2B) trail and is itself a B2B trailhead. Dirt foot paths wander throughout the disc golf course, with views of the river and other unique habitat prevalent. The south side of the park is home of the Ann Arbor Rowing Club (AARC). The AARC offers learn to row programs for the general public and holds an annual regatta. The boathouse here is also home to the rowing teams of the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Huron High School. Canoe, kayak, and tube rentals are available at the Argo livery, just half a mile away.
Bandemer Park is also a good place to be still and observe nature. To read about what flora and fauna you might experience, read Natural Area Preservation newsletter: 2002 Park Focus: Bandemer by Beth Campbell. Or check out this brochure to learn more about the wildlife, preservation and eco systems around the Argo Pond.
The park also features one of the four Canoe Imagine Art installations in Ann Arbor Parks. The tulip installation by Ray Katz is located at the north end of the park off of Whitmore Lake Road.
Park NoticesUnless 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. PFAS "Do Not Eat Fish" AdvisoryThe MDHHS has issued a “Do Not Eat Fish” advisory for the Huron River and advises people and their pets to avoid foam on the Huron River. Learn more about PFAS information from the City of Ann Arbor here. |
Park Hours6 a.m. – 10 p.m. |
Amenities
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There are parking lots at the north off Barton Drive where it meets Whitmore Lake Road and at the south entrance of the park off North Main Street at Lake Shore Drive. The park is also accessible by foot from nearby parks and nature areas. Bandemer is directly west across the river from Argo Park & Nature Area. Use the paved trail to cross the Argo Dam to reach the Argo livery and Argo Nature Area. The Border-to-Border Trail (B2B) travels through the center of this park. To the south, the B2B crosses Argo Dam, passes by Argo Canoe Livery; Fuller Park; University of Michigan Hospital; and Mitchell Field; where it joins with Gallup Park - another B2B Trailhead. The Border-to-Border Trail (B2B) is a non-motorized pathway that connects cities, parks, and many destinations throughout Washtenaw County.
Unfortunately, there are no bus stops that are a 10-minute walk to Bandemer park.
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 early Ann Arbor, the land was used as a stockyard for the railroad and had open pastures. The Huron River eroded little bays along the shoreline, limiting access to the property and narrowing the land. The original Main Street bridge crossed the Huron River, where the pedestrian and vehicular bridge are currently located, spanning the full distance across the railroad tracks. This bridge was replaced with the current M-14 bridge in the 1950's. During this period the land had been used for construction and as staging grounds for M-14. Much of the interior of the park was used as a dumping ground. Evidence of construction debris and dumping is evident as small hills throughout the woods, in areas where nature has reclaimed the land. As a result of these disturbances, many of the plants are exotic invasives. Several areas of the river's edge were filled to provide a larger land surface sometime during the 1950's. A simple box concrete bridge crossed the river on the old bridge abutments, providing access for construction vehicles. Visit this link to view images of the land from before the park was developed.
In the early 90's a land use consultant was used to study Ann Arbor's North Main Street corridor main developments and develop three approaches to improve the area. Howard Deardorff, president of Deardorff Design Resources Inc., developed and presented his development alternatives to the North Main Task Force after a two-month information gathering process. The "consensus plan" selected reflected a blend of the most popular elements of the three alternatives.
As part of the consensus plan,Mayor Jerry Jernigan cosponsored a resolution to approve the application for funds under the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund program to acquire the 8-acre riverfront parcel (Harry Hawkins parcel) directly south of Bandemer Park. The city's Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan listed the property as a priority for public acquisition. Both the park plan and Deardorff proposals for North Main Street called for uninterrupted bike paths and walkways along the river. In May 1990, the land was purchased.
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.
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.
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.
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