A walk in the woods with Jennifer Lolley of the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve. Just click on the button below to listen or check us out on iTunes!
I have always been fortunate to live in places where I am surrounded by green spaces. I grew up in the ‘burbs, but close to woods. Living close to the urban center of St. Louis, I still had ready access to Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. For almost ten years in Bloomington, Indiana, we were close to wonderful state parks. So, when we moved to Auburn, one of the first places we checked out was Chewacla State Park, which is delightful.
Then, we discovered The Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve.
Strolling through the Preserve’s 110 acres really gives you an appreciation for the diversity of flora and fauna Alabama has to offer. Plus, as much as I like a good state park, the Preserve gives one a real sense of wilderness. So much so, in fact, that it’s hard to believe it’s so close to downtown Auburn. It’s so handily located that it’s trails are a favorite destination for a morning run when the roads around my house become a bit too familiar. Clearly, I’m not the only person who feels that way as the Preserve hosts an annual 5K trail run.
The Preserve offers loads of events and activities for all ages. Wilderness aside, there’s a covered pavilion, which is well suited to classes and workshops. The Sundilla Acoustic Concert Series is looking for an opportunity to bring a concert to the Frank Allen Turner Amphitheater, which promises to make for a memorable evening of music. If structured activity doesn’t suit your mood, self-guided trail maps are available.
Best of all, admission to the Preserve is free. They are, however, always happy to accept membership donations.
The Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve is located on Highway 147 North, just north of the Auburn University fish ponds and is open seven days a week, year ’round, sunrise to sundown.
