Ensley Township in Newaygo County MI

Ensley Township

Ensley Nature Preserve

Nature Preserve Ordinance

The Ensley Nature Preserve

One half mile east of Cypress Avenue on 136th Street in Ensley Township

The Ensley Nature Preserve is a forty acre parcel of land deeded to Ensley Township by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The purpose is for the preservation, recreation, and education of visitors to enjoy this unique environment. The Ensley Nature Preserve Committee began intensive labor this spring. Volunteers cleared the brush for a parking lot, Jim Hawkins donated equipment and time to level the lot, and put in a drive. Larry Meyer designed and marked two trails for development with equipment loaned from the North Country Trails Association. Newaygo County Soil Conservation donated replanting of trees from the Newaygo County Tree Nursery, and NRCS is providing planning assistance as well as coordinating the State Forester. Barber Creek and Grand Rapids Sand and Gravel provided donations of gravel and benches to support private gifts.

It is essential to keep part of our natural heritage untouched as a record for the future, and a baseline to measure change, so people can see the splendor of their past, before the land was degraded.

Nature preserves as untouched places also serve as genetic reservoirs, where trees, plants, and animals that do not exist elsewhere still survive.  These are the values visitors expect to see and everyone needs.

We cannot treat a natural resource as if it has a price tag.  The things found within the Ensley Nature Preserve such as, the old growth forest, the bogs, wildflowers, and  seasonal fungi, viewed through the window of seasons, as well as the mere quiet provide opportunity to make family memories whose measure is intangible.

Ensley Nature Preserve is a Michigan Natural Feature and local natural treasure.  It is up to conservation minded individuals to fight on behalf of this special place.

A huge “Thank you” goes out to;
Russ Schestag for donating a sign of his design and unique wood working skills,
Alvin Smelik for planning ahead with the post stabilizing mix,
And all who contributed their valuable time to dig, rake, and shovel for landscape preparation.