Preserve Description

Tucked between a residential area and a bustling shopping center, this urban preserve was originally part of the Carl Mengerson family farm. The wooded plot was gifted to ACRES in 1989.

At this preserve, visitors will see different stages of forest succession, from an open meadow with stands of hawthorn and gray dogwood, to a mature forest of sugar maple, beech, oak and shagbark and shellbark hickory.

The reserve plays an important role in absorbing stormwater runoff and providing a sanctuary for plants and animals. In the spring, seasonal pools of water called vernal pools provide “nurseries” where many species begin their life cycle, including frogs, salamanders and dragonflies. The trails at this forested wetland are often muddy, so be sure to wear appropriate footwear.