A two-story observation tower looking south into the bison-grazed prairie with beautiful vista views has been constructed near the trail and will be a great spot for bird watching, viewing the prairie chickens in the spring or scouting out the bison herd. The new trail provides visitors a deeper engagement and added educational components, and will be maintained for year-round access. South Parking On the southern end of the prairie, a parking lot off Highway M has been constructed allowing access to an elevated area with great views of the prairie to the north and to the south towards TNC’s Little Creek Farm, which is our sustainable grazing demonstration site. Future plans for this parking lot include constructing a footpath that meanders around Little Creek Farm, with views of grazing pastures and prairie, as well as our future Little Creek fish passage project.
Interpretive trail, kiosks and overlook
Located just across from the pavilion area is a newly constructed 2,300- foot ADA-accessible prairie trail that encourages self-guided recreation and education on the prairie. The trail will include informational kiosks with attached benches and plant species identifiers that provide the scientific name, common name and fun facts of the plants along the trail.
LEARN MORE or plan your visit at nature.org/DunnRanchPrairie
Expanded parking and restrooms A pavilion, which was constructed in 2015, sits on the northern end of the preserve and serves as an event and gathering space for many who visit Dunn Ranch Prairie. This area has been significantly improved to better support both large and small gatherings and allow for self-guided tours throughout the year. The new ADA-accessible parking lot provides plenty of space for buses to park. Also in this area, our new ADA- accessible restrooms provide necessary amenities for visitors who want to make a day of their trip to the prairie.
Doretta Youngman In gratitude we recognize Doretta Madison Youngman of Bethany, Missouri for leaving a Legacy gift to support Dunn Ranch Prairie. Growing up on a nearby farm in Harrison County, Doretta led a unique and interesting life. After completing her second year of teaching, Doretta was among the first women to join the United States Marine Corps during WWII. She chose a role as a transporter and traveled cross country from coast to coast before being stationed in Hawaii. After returning home, Doretta continued her commitment to her students and referred to teaching as “a joy, not a job.” Doretta had a strong faith, love of country and sharp wit. She is remembered for being a caring mother to her son Darryl Lee Youngman, and her sincere love for her family, friends and students. Her generous gift is helping to fund educational kiosks and youth outreach— continuing her spirit and dedication to teaching and life-long learning.
NATURE.ORG/MISSOURI 13
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