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Darke County Parks—Through the Years
Shawnee Prairie Preserve 

This is the sixth installment of a series featuring Darke County Park District’s twelve park areas.  The mission of the Darke County Parks is to acquire and preserve land areas possessing special natural and historical features and to manage and maintain these resources for the benefit of its residents through appropriate educational and passive recreational programs and activities.  The Park District was created in 1972 when the honorable Judge Williams ordered the formation of the Park District.  The Park District is now comprised of over 1,000 acres. 

Shawnee Prairie Preserve is Darke County Park’s largest park and is located at 4267 State Route 502 West, Greenville.  The majority of the 118 acre park was acquired by land donation and land purchase from Winchester Farms, owned by the late Raper and Mabel Nelson and later by their son, Robert.  A small tract was acquired from Andrew and Inez Warner.  There are currently about 2.25 miles of trails that wind throughout a myriad of ecosystems. This park is steeped in a rich mix of history, native plants and wildlife. Archeological evidence has confirmed that at least a portion of Shawnee Prairie Preserve was the site of Prophetstown. 

Shawnee Prairie Preserve is home to the Nature Center and Park Office and is always abuzz with activity.  The Nature Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00am-5:00pm, no charge for admission.  Take the time to visit and check out the displays and live animals that call Darke County home.  Also located on the property is a working Maple Sugar Shack and an 18th Century Pioneer Log House.  The Log House is open Saturdays May through September from 1:00pm-4:00pm.  The Sugar Shack is running when the sap starts to flow, mid-February to early March and is open to the public during our Maple Festival, the first Saturday in March.   Shawnee Prairie Preserve also hosts the Park District’s major events such as Prairie Days, coming up on September 28th and 29th! 

All of the Darke County Parks are open sunrise to sunset.  For more information on Shawnee Prairie Preserve or any Darke County Parks, call the Park Office at 937.548.0165 or visit our website at www.darkecountyparks.org



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