In an attempt to place a visitor's center at an entrance to the Nichols Arboretum, the University may finally gain ownership of the entire reserve.
The University and Ann Arbor city officials are in the process of discussing a possible exchange of a portion of the Arb owned by the city for a piece of University-owned land in the western part of Ann Arbor.
Currently, the University owns 88 of the 123-acre Arb but maintains the entire plot.
The whole issue of a land "swap" arose last year when the University wanted to add an environmental education and visitor's center near the Geddes Avenue entrance to the Arb.
In 1995, the University Board of Regents approved the purchase of the historical Burnham House at 940 Maiden Lane to make way for an expanded parking lot at the Kellogg Eye Center. Arb supporters decided that the historic structure would make a good visitor's center and supported transporting the Burnham House to the Geddes Avenue entrance.
However, this recommendation was met with strong opposition from the city and the Oxbridge Neighborhood Association, which had concerns that the potential visitor's center would block the neighborhood view of the Arb.
They supported a plan to place the Burnham House near the Washington Heights entrance, which eventually was approved.
The whole incident initiated both University and city officials to look at the current ownership of the area's natural parks and resources.
University officials began to consider a previous offer by the city to swap the city's 35 acres of Arb land for the University's holdings of the Saginaw Forest property.
"Though the University has unique resources for research purposes in its Saginaw Forest land, the University has a greater interest at this point in obtaining the complete title to the Nichols Arboretum," said University Director of Community Relations James Kosteva. "A land swap would help prevent future land disputes with the city, like last year's visitor's center fracus."
Gerry Clark, deputy superintendent of Parks and Recreation for the city of Ann Arbor, also said he supported the potential land swap.
"The city only owns 35 acres in the Arb and we don't currently use it for educational programs or even maintain it ourselves," Clark said. "The city would benefit more if there was an increase in public access to the Saginaw Forest area."
Clark said that since Saginaw Forest is currently used mainly for University research there are restrictions on public parking and access.
Both University and city officials said that it is still too early to predict how soon, if at all, a potential land swap could occur.
The suggestion still has to come before City Council and University Regents.
ROB GILMORE/Daily
Two passersby enjoy the sunshine in Nichols Arboretum yesterday. The University may finally gain ownership of the entire reserve.