New Warren Prairie Trail Dedicated

Potlatch signs over 937 acres of land. Seated:  Mark Bice shakes on deal with Darrel Bowman while Ricky O'Neill

 A large crowd gathered alongside Arkansas State Highway 172, about 2 miles south of U. S. Highway 278, Tuesday, November 1st to dedicated the new trail at the Warren Prairie Natural Area.

Mayor Bryan Martin makes brief comments
concerning the benefits of preserving the prairie.

The site which was started being developed in 1983 now consist of 5592 acres of land to be used by the public.  During the program Potlatch Corporation signed over 937 acres to bring the total to 5592.  The land is being managed for recreation, habitat protection, hunting and is logged as needed to maintain the natural condition of the land.  The area is made up of pine woodlands, animal habitat, grounds for the red-cockaded woodpecker, and a variety of tree species and plant life.  It is also being managed for a large variety of birds.  In general the over 5000 acres is in place to be preserved and returned to its natural state.  It is open to the public to be viewed and hiked on.

According to Scott Simon of the Nature Conservvancy, the land has been purchased over the years from some 20 plus property owners.  Mr. Simon expressed his appreciation to the city of Warren, City of Monticello and Bradley and Drew Counties for their help and support.

Darrell Bowman, Deputy Director of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission acted as emcee of the short program and ribbon cutting for the new trail.  Warren Mayor Bryan Martin made brief comments about the benefits of preserving the property for use in the present and the future.  He spoke of hunting on the site with his father as he grew up enjoying the outdoors.

More work is set to be done to take care of the prairie and to make it usable by the public.

Cutting the ribbon on the new nature trail.

Scott Simon of the Nature Conservatory expresses his thanks.