Hanover Square Park

Overview

Hanover Square Park is a small half-acre park and is the oldest park in the city. This park plaza is located at the intersection of Packard and South Division on the edge of downtown and the University of Michigan's campus. View the Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas map for location context. Hanover Square Park is a great little park for getting some shade on a hot summer day when walking or biking in downtown Ann Arbor.

Several large linden trees grace the park, along with more recently planted serviceberry trees and landscape planting beds. A large brick raised flowerbed faces the Packard and Division intersection. A broad paved path cuts through the park. This path receives winter snow clearing. There are park benches, a bike rack and a landfill bin.

A sculpture entitled "Arbor Sapientiae," meaning 'Arbor Wisdom/Understanding', stands near the edge of the wide walkway crossing the park. This sculpture speaks to the university's education role melding with the city's support of the arts.

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

Bike Rack

Paved Path

Landfill Bin

Access and Parking

There is no parking lot at the park, but there is metered street parking on Division Street and other nearby streets.

The park is accessible on foot and bicycle by walking and biking along downtown streets. Packard Street and Division Street each have bike lanes, as do many streets in the downtown area. There is one bike loop at the park to secure bikes to.

Public Transportation

There is a nearby bus stop on Thompson Street, about a five minute walk away. The park is also about a five minute walk from the Blake Transit Center. Visit TheRide for closest stops and route details or check out the parks ride guide.

Park Maps

Open the Park Tracker - See your location while in the park Open the Park Finder - Discover more Ann Arbor parks

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.

When is a square really a triangle? When it's Hanover Square Park in Ann Arbor morphing through time! Ann Arbor's oldest park was true to its name when first created some time between 1824 and 1836. It started as a square and was located where Packard Road ended at the time. The dedication of the land for use as a public park didn't take place until 1859. In 1925, a portion of the land was deeded to the Board of Education (for a property exchange), as the W.S. Perry school for girls that was next to the park had already been using that portion. These circumstances redrew and shrunk the park's boundaries, turning its larger square into the current triangle.

Hanover Square in 1964

The park had play equipment and was used as a children's playground until 1968. At this time, the play equipment was removed, and it took shape as the grassy park that it is today. The "Arbor Sapientiae" sculpture, created by Ronald Bauer, was installed at a different site in 1979, kept in storage for a few years, and then relocated to Hanover Square in 1984. The plaque at the sculpture was installed in 1986 with help from the artist.

Read a more detailed history of the park here.

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