A unique partnership between the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department and area conservation organizations resulted in a 156-acre restored wetland near Eagle Bend Golf Course.
First planted in spring 2000, the area includes a walking trail through the grassland and about 25 acres of wetlands, said Fred DeVictor, director of the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department.
The city of Lawrence is leasing land from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to establish a wetland southeast of Eagle Bend Golf Course. Walking through the area on a recent day were, from left, course superintendent Kerry Golden, Rick Caldwell, assistant course superintendent, and Fred DeVictor, Lawrence Parks and Recreation director.
The department will receive the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the Kansas Bankers Assn. Wildlife Award.
Although the parks department provides aquatic centers, youth sports leagues and playground equipment, DeVictor said many people also want natural areas for recreation.
"We need some of the urban areas for active recreation uses," he said. "But part of our plan is to preserve some of the unique areas around this community as well."
To develop the wetland, the Parks and Recreation Department worked with the federal government's Natural Resource Conservation Service, Kansas University Biological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Douglas County Conservation District.
The land, leased from the corps, was previously farmland. To create wetlands, some earthen berms were constructed to hold water, DeVictor said.
DeVictor said he didn't know whether other cities in Kansas were creating natural areas, but that it was part of the long-range plan for Lawrence.
Other natural areas in Lawrence include the Prairie Park/Mary's Lake area, and 40 acres of timber north of Free State High School that was donated to the city in December 2001.
"I'm sure there are other cities doing some similar things, but I don't know to what extent," DeVictor said. "I think we're doing a lot to preserve many of these areas."
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.