Conservation Park Tour

Press release: In 2017 Madison Parks staff hosted seven education walking tours at six unique conservation parks. The hikes, led by Conservation Technician Brandon Mann, and Conservation Resource Supervisor Paul Quinlan, featured an introduction to the habitats protected by each park. Tour participants learned about the park’s position in the ecosystem, the landscape and in geologic time. They saw first-hand examples of the dynamic nature of the plant community, the impact of past and surrounding uses of the land, and the natural processes which are often interrupted or compromised. About 80 people attended the tours in 2017, with North Cherokee Marsh and Owen the most popular destinations—more than 20 people attending each.

Tours will be offered on select Wednesday evenings May through October at the same locations as last year. Don’t expect them to look the same though! Our restoration efforts are in full swing, and visitors will see recently burned prairies, fewer invasive species, and plant communities starting to recover. They will also learn about the ways we consider and help the animal residents of our parks.