Scio Township Purchases Property for Nature Preserve

Scio Township’s Land Preservation Program recently purchased its first property for a nature preserve in the township.

The property is located on the west side of Baker Road north of Marshall Road and surrounds the Dexter Gardens nursery and garden center. It consists of woods, wetlands and frontage on Mill Creek, which is a natural river. The property is 33.4 acres in size and will be named the Sloan Preserve in honor of Louis and Augusta Sloan, who purchased the parent parcel in 1965.

Purchase of the property was made possible by a $200,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. Scio Township’s land preservation millage contributed $33,400 and a matching amount was provided by the Washtenaw County Parks Natural Area Preservation Program. The township’s share of the purchase price was 12.5 percent.

Public access to the Sloan Preserve will be provided by a parking area off Baker Road, to be installed within 90 days. Scio Township has not completed its plans for the property but is planning a trail network and access to Mill Creek for launching canoes and kayaks and for fishing.

The Scio Township Board of Trustees and Land Preservation Commission appreciate the support from the state Trust Fund and Washtenaw County Parks for their contributions to the purchase of the property.