Azaadiikaa Park, formerly Abbot Road Park, was renamed on Indigenous Peoples' Day in 2022 to an Indigenous language-based name to acknowledge and educate residents and visitors about Indigenous heritage. The name Azaadiikaa means “Many Cottonwoods,” to honor their strong presence and all the tribal nations who uphold their sacred being. Cottonwood trees are sacred to Indigenous nations throughout Turtle Island, also known as the United States, and recognized in kinship among Indigenous peoples.
At 130 acres, Azaadiikaa Park (pronunciation: uh-ZAH-dee-kah) is the largest park in the City of East Lansing system. It has one main parking area off Abbot Road and a number of other access points from the Northern Tier Trail. It is bordered by, or in direct proximity to, a number of other parks in the system, including the Aquatic Center, the Softball Complex, the Soccer Complex, and Ashton Lakes Park.
Along with the paved Northern Tier Trail, which runs north/south and east/west, there are a series of mown and unimproved trails that weave through the park’s wooden wetlands and open fields. There is a defined trail crossing at the Abbot Road and Aquatic Center intersection.
As a large wooded area in an urban environment, Azaadiikaa Park provides an excellent, quiet respite for the surrounding residents and for the city as a whole. Bird boxes are placed throughout the park and a variety of habitats are accessible by trail. There are some invasive plants such as buckthorn within the woods. These could be mitigated with a well-coordinated invasive management plan.
Content from Official Website