Boardwalk installed over wet area in Leonard Preserve

The brand new 150′ rustic boardwalk at the Leonard Preserve across the marshy area makes the preserve more accessible!

The Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation (WCPR) reported last week that they have installed a 150-foot rustic plank boardwalk at the Leonard Preserve to improve access through the low, wet areas surrounding the entrance.

The entrance to the 259-acre nature preserve is off of Union Street, just outside the Village limits. The trail into the preserve off the parking lot immediately carries visitors through a marshy wet field that often features standing water and is difficult to traverse without rubber boots, thereby limiting accessibility by the unprepared to the rest of the preserve.

Last May, Ginny Trocchio of WCPR stated, “We have been working over the course of the last year to mitigate the issues at Leonard. The wetland surrounding the parking lot area and the road makes improvements challenging.” They started by fixing the culvert and regrading the road and parking lot. After that, the stewardship crew created a second trail off the parking lot, winding it around to meet the main trail. This second trail was built up, but still waterlogged.

With the installation of the low, rustic boardwalk along the second trail, visitors will now be able to fully utilize the Leonard Preserve and all it has it to offer!

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.