1610 Washington Heights
The Nichols Arboretum, locally known as the Arb, is a 123-acre park owned by both the City of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, which manages it. It is open to the public from sunrise to sunset with free admission. The Huron River separates a northern section of the Arb's floodplain woods; the railroad tracks mark the northern border. The Arboretum was designed by the well-known landscape designer O.C. Simonds, who designed some of Chicago's park system and Graceland Cemetery after studying at the UM. Simonds used the steep glacial topography to include areas for both collections and natural areas. Many of the older plantings are from the 1920s and 30s, and one highlight is the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden which was established in 1922. Today it is the go-to place in June for the exquisite and fragrant flowers of over 800 varieties. There are other important collections, including the Heathdale (Appalachia and Centennial Shrub Collection and the Dow Prairie, the last element added to the park. The mission of the Nichols Arboretum is to foster respect for the land and also provide research on plants, communities, and ecosystems.
There are many trails winding through the hills and fields of the Arboretum. All are unpaved, some are wider and some have rustic stairs. The Arboretum has a restored prairie, open mowed areas and riverside access with good examples of water loving plants. The other woodlands support oak, ash and walnut among other tree species.?
The entire Arb is managed by the Matthaei Botanical Garden Nichols Arboretum. ??The city-owned portion is located on the west side of the Arboretum, spanning beautiful rolling terrain from the Washington Heights entrance, through winding trails, down to the Huron River on the north edge of the park. Located at this entrance is the James D. Reader Jr. Urban Environmental Education Center?, the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden, and helpful maps and information at a small kiosk.
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