Meet Your Park Steward
Jim Millin
email: jwmillin01@gmail.com
Why I’m a Steward: In the late 1990’s, Hennepin County decided to sell 28-acres of land at the northern border of Eden Prairie, and a group of neighborhood activists who wanted the land left as open space to be enjoyed by all, formed a group called Friends of Birch Island Woods (FBIW). They worked tirelessly with the city and county to make that happen, and in 2002 the city bought the land, and the Birch Island Woods Conservation Area (BIWCA) was created. They continued to work, removing buckthorn, planting trees, and making other improvements, but after 20+ years of service, the group dissolved in 2021.
I have lived by the BIWCA for over 30-years and noticed the void left after FBIW disbanded and wanted to resurrect the neighborhood stewardship to make further improvements and recruit the next generation of volunteers to carry on the work for years to come. For me, it’s all about “giving back to your community and leaving it a better place than you received it.”
Map of Park
Stewardship Goals
Invasive species removal- remove buckthorn and other invasive species
Restoration- restore areas with seed, plants, and trees
Monitoring- monitor and maintain areas cleared for invasive regrowth and new growth
Monitoring- monitor and maintain areas cleared for invasive species regrowth and new growth
Invasive species removal- remove buckthorn and other invasive species
Restoration- restore areas with seed, plants, and trees
Monitoring- monitor and maintain areas cleared for invasive regrowth and new growth
