Public invited to Iron Creek Preserve Grand Opening Celebration

submitted by Legacy Land Conservancy

After more than a year of dedicated stewardship, Legacy Land Conservancy is thrilled to welcome the public to the official opening of Iron Creek Preserve on Saturday, June 28, 2025!

Since acquiring the property in April 2024, our stewardship team and more than 50 volunteers who logged 270 hours, have worked tirelessly to prepare Iron Creek for public access. Together, we removed invasive species on more than 64 acres—including autumn olive, garlic mustard, honeysuckle, black locust, garlic mustard, dames’ rocket, purple loosestrife, and reed canary grass. We’ve expanded and improved trails, created detailed maps, and built infrastructure to ensure safe, sustainable access for visitors.

“Our team has enjoyed every second of our time at Iron Creek over the last year, whether it was pulling garlic mustard in the rain, cutting back autumn olive in the frigid winter, or sweating in the sun to install infrastructure,” Legacy Land Conservancy Preserve Stewardship Manager Kyler Moran said. “It’s been an intense labor of love, and we just can’t wait for the public to enjoy it.”

Key improvements include a new pedestrian bridge across Iron Creek; a parking area where the historic farmhouse once stood; an accessible picnic area just off the trailhead; a welcoming kiosk with trail map, preserve features, and more; and major debris cleanup and the removal of unsafe structures.

And now, thanks to this collective effort, Iron Creek Preserve is ready for exploration — from dawn to dusk – beginning June 28th.

We’re also hosting a Grand Opening Celebration for the community on Saturday, June 28 from 10am–1pm. Enjoy guided hikes, light refreshments, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony as we mark this exciting milestone.

The celebration is free to attend, but please RSVP by Monday, June 23. It will help us plan for parking and refreshments! To RSVP visit https://legacylandconservancy.org/, click on events, and click on “Iron Creek Preserve Grand Opening Celebration”, then click on RSVP.

Iron Creek Preserve is located at 11703 Noggles Rd.

Come help us celebrate a new place where nature, community, and conservation come together. We can’t wait to welcome you!

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by Sara Swanson

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