Barton Nature Area

The Trail Phase of the project started in March 2024 and is complete as of August 2024. This occurred along the edges of the existing trail and also in the location of the planned pedestrian tunnel. There may be temporary closures of other trails as needed during the next phases of construction. 

In conjunction with this project is the natural play space near the trail. This new nature playground, the “Great Oak Nature Playground,” is also now open adjacent to the parking lot near Barton Dam. The trail project required the removal of a dying and potentially hazardous white oak tree. The dying tree is estimated to have been more than 150 years old and was felled in a way that allowed it to be reused on site as a new nature play structure. To learn more, read up on the City of Ann Arbor’s projects happening in this area on their website.