Dear Reader,

This summer, the Nature Net team (Brenna, Betsy, and I) decided that we would like to take some time to highlight all of the wonderful things our member sites do to promote environmental education and to share many of the exciting programs and events offered to families like you.  With 16 member sites, it is often difficult to keep up with all that each site has to offer, they’re doing so many incredible things!  My goal is to visit each of our member sites throughout the summer months so I can get a better idea of what opportunities exist for families at each site.  I will be posting “Nature Net Site Spotlight” blog posts throughout the rest of the summer.  I hope that you and your family will find this helpful in planning activities for the summer months and beyond.

Enjoy,

Kelsey

Nature Net Intern

Madison Conservation Parks

My Visit:

Having only lived in Madison for a short time, I was unfamiliar with many of Madison’s Conservation Parks.  I wanted to experience some of the trails that Madison residents use everyday. These parks are perfect for families and individuals to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Whether you prefer to explore through family hikes, walks with the dog, or morning runs, I highly recommend checking out some of these hidden treasures.  I decided to pick a few of the parks to visit, hike, and learn a little more about. Below, I go into more detail about 4 of Madison’s 16 Conservation Parks.

What is a Conservation Park?

According to Madison’s Conservation Parks page, “a conservation park differs in how it is managed and why the land was acquired.  The goal of the conservation park is to restore native plant and animal communities while providing educational areas and opportunities for everyone”.

Turville Point Conservation Park:

Turville Conservation Park sits adjacent to Olin Park off of John Nolen Drive and borders Lake Monona.  With 3.1 miles of trails, this park features a seven acre prairie and an oak forest.  Be sure to visit in the spring when a variety of wildflowers are in full bloom.

Edna Taylor Conservation Park:

Edna Taylor Conservation Park, with 1.3 miles of trails, is located on Femrite Drive near the Aldo Leopold Nature Center and Glendale Elementary School.  The park includes 7 historical Native American mounds located on a glacial drumlin rising above a marsh. The restoration efforts of Edna Taylor focus on oak savanna and wetland areas.  If you’d like to extend your hike, you can even continue on to the trails at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center where the properties join on the western edge of Edna Taylor.  Don’t forget to check out the free guided tour of Edna Taylor on September 16th!

Owen Conservation Park:

Owen Conservation Park offers visitors access to a variety of habitats, including prairies, oak savannas, ponds, and dense forest areas. The land was previously owned by University Professor Edward T. Owen, and was eventually restored to its original landscape.  The ponds in the southwest corner of Owen were constructed in order to trap sediment which previously ran into Lake Mendota.  The ponds also offer habitat to attract water-loving wildlife such as shorebirds, ducks, and herons.   The expansive park features 3.4 miles of trails. Don’t forget to check out the free guided tour of Owen on October 14th!

Stricker’s Pond:

Stricker’s Pond formed as a result of glacial retreat tens of thousands of years ago.  A “kettle” formed and filled with water.  In the past, the water levels varied throughout the year, allowing for a diverse wildlife community.  Over time, land changed due to agricultural development and eventually residential development.  These changes to the landscape greatly affected the area and many plants and trees were lost.  Eventually, the City of Madison and the City of Middleton decided to work together to deal with this issue.  A drainage outlet was constructed, and the quality of  Stricker’s Pond has improved immensely.

Conservation Park Tours:

Free guided tours are led once a month (April-October) by Madison Parks staff.  No sign-up required, just show up and enjoy a tour of Madison’s beautiful Conservation Parks!

Wednesday, September 16, 6:30 pm

Edna Taylor, 802 Femrite Dr.

Walk on a glacial drumlin with large open grown oaks with numerous linear mounds and one panther effigy originating from another time in human history.

Wednesday, October 14, 5:30 pm

Owen, 6021 Old Sauk Rd.

Learn about the natural and human history of this 100 acre natural gem “hidden” on the west side of Madison. View outstanding fall color with oaks and maples that cover this glacial moraine.