Mary McCann Park (near Milan in York Township, Washtenaw County) -------------------------------------------------- Some of the information here is from http://www.twp-york.org/about/parks . There is a small parking lot on Warner Road 0.3 miles south of Bemis Road. A wood chip trail starts from there. Bruce 6-8-2006 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary McCann Park is a 38-acre site in York Township, southeast Washtenaw County. It is located on Warner Road between Willis Road and Bemis Road. It is partially wooded and partially open. This site has been owned by the township for some years since being deeded to the Township by the State of Michigan as it was surplus state land. In 2002, the Township, through the volunteer Parks and Recreation Committee, began actively undertaking the planning and execution of activities to develop the the site into a community parkland. The major theme throughout the planning is conservation and preservation of the natural area and the protection of the wildlife and flora dwelling there. MARY MC CANN PARK Mary McCann Park, being much smaller that Sandra Richardson Park, is less accommodating for a diversified recreational development. The park is approximately half wooded and half open field. The ten year macro development plan put together in 2002 suggests planning for more passive activities such as nature trails, limited picnicking and wildlife observation. The first walking/ nature trail was completed in 2003 and is about a mile in length. In 2004, as a Scouting Eagle award project, a Boy Scout from Saline cut a new trail extension through the woods to the large open area to the east. In late 2006 an observation platform is planned for construction on a small knoll in the open field area. From it there is a rather pleasant panoramic view of the surrounding areas which are in a natural state at this time. A plan is underway to transform the open area into a pleasant ECO- DEMO site. Identifiable plot sectoring of the land into a number of zones each representing a different stage of ecological natural progression will provide an interesting and educational venue to those visiting the park. The park’s open area is to far from the road to be of practical use as an active playing field of any type. Cutting a roadway through the forest to the open area would be detrimental to the forest and the wildlife. In 2004, a small parking lot was constructed at the northwest end of the park as it fronts onto Warner Road. A bridge spanning the small stream which dissects the park was completed in the fall of 2004. An enlargement to the parking lot is also planned for 2006 which should be able to accommodate a school bus used for student field trips to the ecological demonstration site east of the woods. ------------------------------------------------------------------ From: "The Farmers" To: "Bruce M. Bowman" Subject: Sandra Richardson Park / Mary McCann Park Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 11:30:47 -0500 Bruce, Although I've recorded few species of special interest from either site, I'll suggest the two sites where I spend much of my time because of my seat on the York Township Parks Committee. They are the Township's Sandra Richardson Park (entrance and parking lot on the E. side of Platt Rd. 1/2 mile south of Willis Rd.) and Mary McCann Park (entrance and small parking lot on the E. side of Warner Rd. 4/10 mile south of Bemis Road.) Both parks were once part of the Ypsilanti State Hospital grounds. Both parks are crossed by intermittent streams that feed into the Saline River. Both have been the recipients of grants from such sources as the Michigan DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The CARES grant program of the Saline Area Schools, and the Wildflower Association of Michigan as we work to build them into facilities to preserve and protect our local natural resources while educating the public to the importance of natural areas and biodiversity. Richardson Park is 125 acres featuring 55 acres of maturing oak-hickory woods, a 75-year-old orchard in serious decline, a small plot of returning pseudo-prairie, and an old field now regaining it's pre-settlement vegetation typical of an oak savannah, along with the soccer fields of the Saline Area Soccer Association. McCann Park totals 37 acres -- 3/5 of which is a maturing wet forest of oak and hickory. The remainder is an old field area between the woods and the Ann Arbor Railroad . That part is currently under development as an Environmental Education/Passive Recreation Area designed for casual nature walks as well as more formal guided tours for school classes and similar groups. Eventually the collection of small habitat plots, including a small pond constructed through a grant from the US Fish and Wildlife service, should act as a small magnet for many species. One or more Northern Mockingbirds have been seen there, as well as a variety of raptors. (This facility is my baby. I suggested the idea to the Parks Committee and have since accepted the role of project manager until development is completed sometime this year or next. I'd be most interested in feedback from the birding and enviromental communities regarding the site and will entertain suggestions to increase its effectiveness in achieving its mission.) I'll leave you to your discretion as to whether you add these York Twp. spots to your list or not. If you or anyone else should be induced by this mention to visit either site, I'd welcome their sharing of sighting for me to add to my own growing species lists for the sites. I'd be happy to answer questionis by email, phone (734-439-1297) , or letter to John Farmer @ 13475 N. Petersburg Road; Milan, MI 48160. John F. ----------------------------- From: "The Farmers" To: birders@umich.edu Subject: [birders] Good Mimid Spot Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 07:54:51 -0400 York Township's Mary McCann Park lies east of Warner Road 4/10 mile south of Bemis Road in the northern part of York Township, six miles south of Ann Arbor. We're developing an environmental education and passive recreation area in an old field area behind a nice oak-hickory wet woods in the park. All three mimids are there. Saw three Brown Thrashers yesterday, a Northern Mockingbird the day before, and Gray Catbirds on many recent visits. Also a probable Yellow-breasted Chat call yesterday (I'm not good on vocalizations, so that one may be incorrect, although Jacco Gelderloos had one there a couple of summers ago. I mention these come-ons to encourage people to check out our parks (Sandra Richardson Park on the east side of Platt Rd. 4/10 mile south of Willis is also worth a look/listen if you're in the area. We're in the process of building species lists for both parks. I'd appreciate your lists for the parks if you go there, so we can add your sightings to our own. (We're keeping track of all vertebrates, as well as butterflies, odonates, and any other inverts of note. Thanks, John Farmer York Township Parks Committee