Overview
Brokaw Nature Area is a 24.45 acre triangular-shaped nature area along Huron River Drive, far northwest of the city center, close to the Huron River and bounded by Wagner Road on the west. View the
Ann Arbor Parks & Nature Areas Map for location context. The park was opened in 2017. City Council voted to accept the property in October 2013, but an old house and outbuildings had to be removed before ecological restoration could begin and the park could be opened to the public. Funding for these activities was provided through an endowment that came with the property. The existing trails, which are still being developed, pass though an oak-hickory forest that contains shingle oaks, a very special oak that has leaves with no lobes. Brokaw Nature Area is one of only two parks owned by the City of Ann Arbor that has shingle oaks, and it contains seven different species of oak in total. The site of the old house is considered a great place to stop and smell the wildflowers, like wild bergamot and common mint. There is a higher diversity of wildlife at Brokaw than many city nature areas because of its variety of habitats. Leopard frogs hunt in the meadows, and snapping turtles sometimes follow the stream course up from the river to nest. It’s also a good park for listening to woodland birds— Eastern Wood-pewees and Scarlet Tanagers sing here, and at least 5 woodpecker species can be found here during the nesting season.
