Old West Side Parks

Ann Arbor, echoing its name, is a city rich in parks. Although the Old West Side is near downtown, it enjoys many opportunities to get out around the neighborhood to walk, run, play, gather, and enjoy nature. Here are the parks in or immediately surrounding the OWS.

Learn more about all of Ann Arbor’s parks and their amenities at the Ann Arbor Parks Department.

Parks Inside the Old West Side

A sign for Wurster Park in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with green trees and a walking path in the background.

Wurster Park

Located on a rise in the south central part of the OWS, contains landmark oak trees, a children’s playground, volleyball and horseshoe areas, and a gentle sledding hill.

Parks Bordering the Old West Side

A forest trail surrounded by trees with yellow and green leaves, fallen leaves on the ground, and fallen logs across the trail.

Eberwhite Woods and Nature Area

Southwest: Just outside the southwest corner of the OWS, next to Eberwhite Elementary School, this large nature area - part school property, part city park - boasts hiking trails through forest and vernal ponds, and a resident great horned owl. The children’s playground on the school grounds is an enchanted wonder, open to all outside school hours or events.

A winding wooden boardwalk over a calm body of water in a natural setting with trees in autumn colors.

West Park

North: Bordering the OWS to the north, across W. Huron St., this is a very large urban park with walking trails along a restored wetland, a wildlife pond home to turtles, ducks, and the occasional blue heron, and a children’s playground, baseball diamond, basketball court, and sledding hill.

A park with paved pathways, grassy areas, and trees under a blue sky.

Bach School Little and Big Playgrounds

Outside school hours and events, check out the terrific “small” playground next to the school and the “big” playground west across Fifth St., containing a second playground, ball and soccer fields, and small amphitheater.

A park with tall trees, green grass, a wooden fence, a sidewalk, and a park sign that reads Elmendinger Park.

Almendinger Park

South: Just across Pauline Blvd. to the south of the OWS, a square, flat park with baseball diamonds, tennis/pickleball and basketball courts, a tree-shaded children’s playground, and restroom facilities.

Park entrance sign for Waterworks Park with colorful flowers in the foreground and lush green trees and playground in the background on a sunny day.

Waterworks Park

A small park just east of Slauson Middle School in the northwest section of the OWS, has scenic walking paths connecting Seventh and Eighth Streets and a children’s playground. West across Eight St., just south of Slauson, is a large school field with sledding hill.