Increasing Visibility, Awareness, and Accessibility to Nature

The Chippewa Watershed Conservancy (CWC) has three preserves within minutes of Mt. Pleasant that were hard to identify and underutilized due to a lack of signage. The Hiawatha Hills Preserve, a 5-acre forested floodplain along the Chippewa River. The Neyer Preserve, a 2-acre 100% wooded area with over 440 feet of river frontage. Finally, the Winifred Sponseller Preserve, a 13-acre with a spring-fed natural trout stream and tributary of the Chippewa River. Considering the location of these preserves and the incredible resources they offer; proper signage was necessary to inform the community.

With funding provided in part by the Andy Wheeler Community Needs Fund, the Joanne Golden Family Community Impact Fund, and the W. Sidney Smith and Judith French Smith Family Fund of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation and with help from a volunteer force of CMU students, the project to install signage was undertaken, with the intentions of increasing visibility, awareness, and accessibility to the preserves. Ultimately, providing more opportunity for recreation, exploration and utilization of green space to the Mt. Pleasant and surrounding communities.

Eleven CMU student volunteers of differing backgrounds and interest areas were involved in the project.  They joined CWC Executive Director Mike LeValley on a cool November day to install the signs. Volunteers dug post holes, installed 4x6 posts, and bolted the custom carved and painted wooden signs. The students were vital to the success of the project and gained hands-on work skills during the process, while learning about and visiting several CWC preserves.

The new signage lets visitors know the green space in their community is a public nature preserve owned by Chippewa Watershed Conservancy and is available for them to use. Thanks to the MPCAF, CWC can share these incredible local treasures with more folks throughout our region and help connect individuals with nature.