Darke County Parks—Through the Years

This is the ninth 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.

Turkeyfoot Preserve is located southwest of Greenville with convenient access and parking off Bishop Road. Named for the prairie grass, Big Bluestem which displays a flower head that resembles a “turkey’s foot,” this preserve includes 60 acres of re-established prairie and managed wetlands. Turkeyfoot provides a showplace for soil and water conservation practices while establishing vital habitat for native and migrant wildlife. The wetlands are a premier birding area during spring and fall migration, while the prairie hosts grassland nesting birds of outstanding variety. The preserve was acquired by the Darke County Park District in 2001 with the intent to maintain the wetlands, re-establish prairie and provide for public access and passive recreation.

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