79 Acres Along Mill Creek to be Preserved in Ann Arbor's First Bluebelt Project

The land will be added to Scio Township's Sloan Preserve through a partnership between the city, township, and county parks department.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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The Ann Arbor City Council has approved using $231,000 in greenbelt millage funds to partner with Scio Township and the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission to purchase 79 acres of land along Mill Creek. The property, which includes woods, wetlands, and farmland, will become an extension of the existing Sloan Preserve in Scio Township. This is the first land preservation project in Ann Arbor's new bluebelt district, which aims to protect the city's drinking water quality by preserving more land and water resources in the Huron River watershed.

Why it matters

The bluebelt district is an expansion of Ann Arbor's existing greenbelt program, which has protected thousands of acres of farmland and natural areas around the city. The primary goal of the bluebelt is to safeguard the city's drinking water supply by preserving more land and water resources upstream of the Huron River intake at Barton Pond. This first bluebelt project helps achieve that objective by protecting a significant stretch of Mill Creek, a tributary of the Huron River.

The details

The 79-acre Davenport property includes woods, wetlands, and farmland along Mill Creek. It will be added to the existing 50-acre Sloan Preserve in Scio Township. The $770,000 purchase price will be split, with Ann Arbor contributing $231,000 from its greenbelt millage funds, and Scio Township and the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission each contributing $269,500. The farmland on the property will remain, though the township may later conduct ecological restoration of the fields. The forested areas are described as healthy second-growth floodplain forest, and the open wetlands contain fen indicators.

  • The Ann Arbor City Council voted to approve the land purchase on February 19, 2026.

The players

Ann Arbor City Council

The governing body of the city of Ann Arbor that voted to approve the land purchase for the bluebelt project.

Scio Township

A neighboring township that is partnering with Ann Arbor and the county parks department to purchase and preserve the 79-acre Davenport property, which will become an extension of the existing Sloan Preserve.

Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission

The county parks department that is contributing funding and partnering with Ann Arbor and Scio Township on the bluebelt land preservation project.

Rosie Pahl Donaldson

The land acquisition supervisor for Ann Arbor's greenbelt program who provided details on how the Davenport property qualifies as a bluebelt project.

Erica Briggs

An Ann Arbor City Council member who expressed excitement about the first bluebelt project.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's really exciting.”

— Erica Briggs, Ann Arbor City Council Member (mlive.com)

What’s next

The city and its partners will finalize the purchase of the 79-acre Davenport property and incorporate it into the Sloan Preserve in Scio Township.

The takeaway

This first bluebelt project demonstrates Ann Arbor's commitment to expanding its successful greenbelt program to protect more land and water resources in the Huron River watershed, which is crucial for safeguarding the city's drinking water supply. The partnership approach with the township and county parks department sets a precedent for future bluebelt initiatives.