Winter 2002

Four different natural communities, color-coded trails, and a nature center with many activities for children highlight this park

Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Created over 30 years ago as a gleam in the eye of local farmer Bob Pringle, this 341-acre park near Kenosha, Wisconsin, features four natural communities, including stands of brooding black oaks, some over 100 years old, in the upland forests. They are punctuated by black cherry and, in spring, by May apples and nodding trillium. Bur, black, red, and white oaks, touched by wild bergamot and roses, dot clusters of craggy shagbark hickories in the oak savanna remnants.

More than four miles of color-coded trails — prime ground for skiing or snowshoeing — traverse the park. The orange trail, for instance, travels through a wetland marsh flaunting sedges, reeds, winter cress, and in the summer, rare swamp buttercups. With luck, you'll spot great blue herons nesting above swamp marigolds, as well as mallards and screech owls settling in to raise their families.

The green trail on the bottomland forest circles an expanse of basswood, box elder, black willow, and cottonwood, as it wanders through riverbank grape, woodbine, and pungent wood sage. Maybe you'll spot green dragons, a type of Jack-in-the-pulpit, or bursts of yellow violets. To witness an ancient, untouched moraine, ski the northeast rim of the bottomland blue trail and look up. You may catch sight of great horned owls, phoebes, or screech owls circling high overhead.

According to Dan Werner, the park’s site director, "Mr. Pringle became increasingly concerned about animal grazing, gravel mining, and real estate development in the area even though the park's land has never been farmed. He persuaded the county park commission, of which he was a long-time member, to buy his share of the woods at a greatly reduced cost if they purchased the balance from four other owners." The commission obliged him in 1971, as did Pringle's sister with a donation of $50,000 for a nature center. Their dreams were realized when the park opened in 1998 to provide a rare and protected habitat for wildlife within the surrounding sweep of corn and soybean fields.

The red trail leads to the Pringle Nature Center where you can enjoy coffee or hot cocoa from the kitchen while admiring the eastern box turtle, painted turtle, and leopard frog on display. Wander over to the western fox snake's cage, and note the two eastern tiger salamanders before you check out the worm compost that provides food for the box turtle and the salamanders. Then inspect the cage of darkling beetles raised as food for the leopard frog.

Built largely with donated labor and materials, the Center is the focal point for year-round programs sponsored by the Kenosha Youth Foundation. When the snow disappears, hustle the kids to the Easter egg hunt or bring Mom to the Mother's Day brunch for a delightful meal and a native flower to commemorate her day. In late April and May, admire the sweeps of blooming Jack-in-the-pulpit, shooting star, rue anemone, and Virginia creeper, as well as cut-leaf toothwort, nodding trillium, and crowfoot.

Be sure to mark April 20 and 21 on your calendar and join the gang pulling invasive garlic mustard and honeysuckle on Saturday. After supper, treat the kids to an overnight in a tent where they can dream about their festive thank-you brunch and group games on Sunday morning, and maybe even spot a red fox leaping on his insect breakfast.

For schedules of field trips and seasonal tours for adults and children as well ski, snowshoe, and facility rentals, Scout, school holiday, and summer day camp programs, call (262) 857-2688.

The Center is open 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends when events are scheduled. For lodging and restaurant information, visit www.kenoshacvb.com or call (800) 654-7309. — Barbara Phillips

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