Wilson Woods
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In 1955, the State of Iowa enacted a law permitting counties to establish county conservation boards. On Woodland Mounds Rolling Thunder November 5, 1974, Warren County citizens voted to create the Warren County Conservation Board. The Preserve Prairie board’s purpose is to encourage a state of harmony Before European settlers came to this area, Native between people and the land communities upon Americans lived along the rivers of Warren County. www.warrenccb.org [email protected] (515) 961-6169 50125 Iowa Indianola, Avenue 15565 118th County Conservation Board Warren which our lives and welfare depend, through programs They were part of a culture of people who dwelled in of conservation, preservation and education. villages located along most of the major watercourses in Iowa and the eastern half of North America. They Five Warren County citizens are appointed by the did not leave a written record, instead they left a Warren County Board of Supervisors to five-year variety of their cultural objects such as stone tools, terms on the conservation board, with one term pottery and earthen mounds that help show us how expiring December 31 of each year. Meetings are held they lived. Evidence indicates that these people lived monthly and are open to the public. successfully in this area for thousands of years. The Warren County Conservation Board currently Great Western Trail Purchased with a grant from the Wildlife Habitat manages more than 2,200 acres of land for the benefit The Warren and Polk County Conservation Boards Stamp Fund, Woodland Mounds Preserve contains of county residents and visitors. A wide variety of manage this 16.5 mile asphalt trail jointly. Trail heads 185 acres of timber that provides habitat for many activities are offered on the public lands the WCCB are located across from the Izaak Walton League types of woodland wildlife, including many neo- Rolling Thunder Prairie is a 282 acre wildlife conserves for this generation and generations to come. Clubhouse on Valley Drive in Des Moines, at Inwood tropical migrant birds such as warblers. An additional management area with a landscape dominated by The picnic shelters at Hickory Hills, Otter Creek, Street in Martensdale and on county road G14 in 140 acres are leased for public access. native prairie. The preserve was purchased with Martensdale and Grant Nature Land are available Cumming. Your trip along the Great Western Trail is assistance from Pheasants Forever and the Wildlife for reservation. The Annett Nature Center is also a journey into history. It will take you through the site Wilson Woods Habitat Stamp Fund, a competitive grant program available for private use as the WCCB schedule allows. of Lida, past the munitions train derailment and fire A small bottomland wood on the North River, financed by a fee included in Iowa hunting licenses. Details are available from the WCCB office. near North River and across the Churchville Prairie. Wilson Woods is a protected green space for Warren A hilly area with Summerset Trail County, but has no public access. a wooded creek, Hickory Hills Park Rolling Thunder Stretching 11 miles from Carlisle to Indianola, the Grant Nature Land consists mainly of Hickory Hills features a primitive camping area, a Summerset Trail passes through rolling hills and river grasses and forbs. It small pond, trails, a large shelter with a raised deck, bottom wetland as it winds from town to town. Near Donated by Ferold and Dorothy Grant, this 150 is used extensively by and an old homestead site that includes the original the midpoint of the trail sits the village of Summerset acre park in northeast Warren County features a a variety of upland, storm cellar, farmhouse foundation, and barn with on the south bank of the Middle River. Restroom picnic shelter, a secluded pond and some wonderful woodland and edge a concrete floor and electricity added for park user facilities with running water are available at the woodland trails. species. The western convenience. A series of mounds built by Native Indianola trail head and pit toilets are available at the 200 acres have never Americans are also in the park. The barn and shelter Carlisle trail head and at Banner Lakes at Summerset Lundy Acres been plowed and are very popular for family reunions, scout outings State Park near the halfway mark. Parking is available A lowland wood near Middle River, Lundy includes a contain high quality and weddings. at all three points. short, pleasant trail and a picnic area. prairie plant species. Annett Nature Environmental Zo-El Annett Woods Iowa Department of In 1983 Ellis Annett donated this 10 acre woodland Center & ANC Park Education to the Warren County Conservation Board as a Natural Resources memorial to his late wife Zona and also in memory of The Annett Nature Center is filled with activity The Iowa DNR is responsible for state parks and his mother. Zo-El features a winding trail that climbs year round. WCCB staff offer many environmental forests, protecting the environment, and managing to the back of the park, crosses a long suspension education programs and presentations. The ANC energy, fish, wildlife, and land and water resources bridge and then descends back to the trail head, has information, interactive displays and a small in Iowa. The DNR manages various lands in Warren affording the hiker a beautiful stroll through a lovely collection of local species of live animals. You can visit County and their main office may be reached at: the Annett Nature Center by appointment or during woodland park along with a picnic area. open hours. The ANC is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 502 E. 9th Street Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday Otter Creek Park Des Moines, IA 50319-0034 (March-October). (Duties may require all staff to Otter Creek’s shady picnic area, winding trails, (515) 281-5918 be away from the building on weekdays, please call secluded campsites, prairie restoration area, and small www.iowadnr.gov Many outdoor environmental education events are ahead.) WCCB naturalists also provide educational pond offer a sponsored by the WCCB. Several of the events are DNR in Warren County: programs in Warren County parks and schools. Staff pleasant variety The Annett Nature Center Park (ANCP) is 160 annual programs — Kids’ Fish Day, Owl Prowl and Lake Ahquabi State Park & works in classrooms with students and teachers to of recreational acres, includes a six-acre pond and a ten-acre wetland, the Prairie Picnic are only a few of the favorite fun Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park: provide environmental experiences and information and educational and lies adjacent to Lake Ahquabi State Park. The and educational events along with numerous seasonal (515) 961-7101 about local species and ecotypes. The WCCB opportunities Annett Nature Center opened on Earth Day 1997, public programs. A series of summer day camps for Ahquabi campground: (515) 961-7051 education staff also provides programs for specialty to park visitors. the result of years of planning by the Warren County kids from 4–12 years of age are held at the Annett Wildlife areas: (515) 238-6936 groups such as civic organizations and scouts. WCCB The 80 acre Conservation Board (WCCB) and the foresight and Nature Center. Each camp works with a different Law enforcement: (515) 238-4847 naturalists work with every age group — pre-school to park was benevolence of Warren County citizens such as Ellis theme to enhance the experience and education value senior citizens. acquired by the Annett. The nature center has three levels containing for the children. Call the WCCB at (515) 961-6169 WCCB in 1976, interpretive exhibits, classrooms, staff offices and a or check the WCCB web site at www.warrenccb.org the board’s first The Nature community room that is available for reservation. for a list of programs and to find out how to join the land purchase. Proceeds from the sale of the Warren County Farm Friends of Warren County Conservation and help Conservancy and Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) with WCCB programs, schedule a program or request funds also helped to create the ANCP. our newsletter. Bank Swallow Bend The Nature Conservancy is an international, The park serves as the hub for WCCB activities, Blue Flag Marsh 543 acres of upland and wetland habitats, including nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the acting as the focal point for many school field trips, more than a mile of South River, Bank Swallow Bend diversity of life on Earth. Berry Woods and Medora public programs and the WCCB Day Camps. Established by the Iowa Department of is a haven for fishermen, hunters, and bird watchers. Prairie are privately held lands. For information or Prairie grasses and forbs, a wildlife viewing blind, an Transportation as a wetland mitigation site, Blue Pheasants Forever, the Iowa Natural Heritage permission to access these areas, contact TNC at: observation tower and a butterfly garden featuring Flag adjoins the Great Western Trail. The area Foundation, the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Fund, and 303 Locust Street, Suite 402 sculptures and native flowers are among the emphasizes constructed wetlands in the lowlands and the North America Wetlands Conservation Act all Des Moines, IA 50309 attractions. WCCB maintenance and operations are reestablished prairie on the associated uplands. helped acquire this area for Warren County. Phone: (515) 244-5044 also based here. www.nature.org Warren County Parks & Recreation Areas Warren County, Iowa LEGEND Freeway Major Highway 000 000 000 000