Leslie Park is a large 38-acre park located off Dhu Varren Road, tucked between neighborhoods on the city's north side. View the Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas map for location context. The park contains two play areas, one tennis court, six dedicated pickleball courts, basketball courts, softball fields, a sledding hill with a great view of the Leslie Park Golf Course, picnic tables, benches and open fields. There is lots of parking and a portable restroom in the summer. An accessible asphalt walking/biking path connects all of the activities. Trails connect Leslie Park to Black Pond Woods. The paved paths receive winter snow clearing. Leslie Park is also a winter pick-up spot for a salt/sand mixture to help residents treat sidewalks.
Leslie Park is one of two locations (along with Bicentennial Park, formerly known as Southeast Area Park) that will feature a unique Ann Arbor Bicentennial mural on its basketball court beginning in 2024, as the city is celebrating its bicentennial. Learn more!
An online informational meeting about the Leslie Park Food Forest Project took place Sept. 10, 2020. The Food Forest is being proposed by a citizen coalition interested in advancing food security and sustainability solutions. At this meeting, participants were encouraged to ask questions and share thoughts on the proposed project. A video of the meeting can be viewed on YouTube.
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
Open Fields
Pickleball Courts
Restroom
Playgrounds
Basketball Courts
Grill
Picnic Tables
Baseball & Softball Fields
Tennis Court
Parking
Landfill Bins
Paved Paths
Unpaved Trails
Sledding Hill
There are several dirt parking lots in the park, near all of the activities. The largest parking area is next to the tennis and pickleball courts and close to the basketball court as well.
The park is accessible on foot and bicycle. The park is accessible by walking and biking through the connected neighborhoods. There are bike lanes along nearby Dhu Varren Road and Pontiac Trail. There are no bike racks in the park.
The park has trails connecting it to Black Pond Woods Nature Area.
The nearest bus stop to the Leslie Park Circle entrance on the north side of the park is less than a five minute walk from the park. There is a bus stop right next to the trail entrance off of Pontiac Trail. Visit TheRide for schedule and route details or check out the parks ride guide.
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 property once known as the Hagen Farm was bought by the City of Ann Arbor from Eugene and Emily Leslie in 1963. Eugene was a chemist, professor, and inventor. Totaling about 207 acres, this land is now home to Leslie Park, the Leslie Park Golf Course, the Leslie Science and Nature Center, Leslie Woods Nature Area and more. This property was the largest ever purchased by the city for park and recreational purposes.
Steve Gilzow of the Ann Arbor Observer wrote about the Leslies and their generosity:
"E.H. and Emily Leslie both died in 1976. They had already given their home to the city, retaining a life lease, and had sold the farm for annual payments of $15,000. They forgave the remaining debt in their wills, and left a half-million-dollar trust fund that more than covered the past payments. It was one of the most generous gifts the city has ever received. The farm became Leslie Golf Course, Leslie Park, and Leslie Woods. The Traver Rd. property opened to the public in 1986 as the Leslie Science Center."
Read the whole article here.
Read historical articles courtesy of the AADL about Eugene and Emily Leslie and their contributions 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.
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.
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.
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