Birch Island Woods Conservation Area and Edenvale Conservation Area

Jim Millin

Jim is the park steward for the Birch Island Woods Conservation Area (BIWCA). The BIWCA is a 34-acre park located south of Birch Island Lake and is bounded by the TC & W railroad tracks on the north, Indian Chief Road and Edenvale Boulevard on the east, and Birch Island Road on the south. He also helps steward Edenvale Conservation Area which is just to the south of BIWCA.

Jim has lived in the Forest Hills area for 30 years and BIWCA is approximately 0.5 mile from his home.  Jim chose to be a Park Steward for BIWCA of the history of community involvement and collaboration that made this park a reality. You can read more about this history from Eden Prairie Local News, featuring Jim and the retired Friends of Birch Island Woods (FBIW) group, here

BIWCA is one of the smallest conservation areas in Eden Prairie but has a diverse range of trees, plants and birds. It provides a bit of tranquility that is easily accessible to all, and Jim walks the area almost every day.

One major issue at BIWCA is the dense amount of buckthorn and other invasive species. Jim’s ultimate goal is to eliminate buckthorn from the 33-acre conservation area.  Jim aims to remove buckthorn and restore native habitat to enhance the experience in the park as well as develop a dedicated group of people that includes young and old to ensure sustainability for years to come.

You can contact this Park Steward via email

jwmillin01@gmail.com

Eden Brook Conservation Area

Glenn Olson

Glenn Olson is the founder of Friends of Eden Prairie Parks as well as a Park steward for Eden Brook Conservation Area. Glenn has lived down the Road from Eden Brook since the 1970s.

Glenn was also apart of the Eden Prairie Commission in the 1970s when the remaining parcels of undeveloped land in Eden Prairie were surveyed to explore the option of conservation. The 70 available parcels were narrowed to 7, then the citizens of Eden Prairie voted 6 to 1 to invest $1.9 million dollars to preserve a set of parcels. Thanks to some clever negotiating, the City ended up with 4 of the 7 parcels in 1994. Today, Eden Prairie has 1,400 acres of conservation area. This was an unprecedented achievement, and Glenn was proud to be a part of it.

However, invasive plant species rapidly overtook native plants in these precious conservation areas, in other Minnesota cities, and in many of our own backyards.

We have many invasive species here in Eden Prairie, but none is more viscous and tenacious than buckthorn. Buckthorn has been the most successful at outgrowing native plants and has taken over 90% of the land in some conservation areas, leaving only tunnels through the preserves.  If we leave things as they are, what are we preserving?

Glenn aims to remove buckthorn and restore Edenvale Conservation Area to what it was like back when he first moved to Eden Prairie.

You can contact this Park Steward via email

golson8@yahoo.com

Riley Creek Woods Conservation Area

Marilynn and Tom Torkelson

Marilynn and Tom Torkelson are the park stewards for Riley Creek Conservation Area. Marilynn has training as a Minnesota Master Naturalist and  Minnesota Water Steward. She has 10 years of experience learning and teaching about the benefits of native plants as the president of Wild Ones Prairie Edge chapter.

Marilynn and Tom love the expansive views of the valley and creek, especially on the southern loop of the trail system. It is fabulous in all seasons!

Although there are areas chock full of invasive plants, much of the park is in excellent shape with a wonderful display of spring ephemerals, ferns, sedges, perennials and Big Woods forest biome common in southern Minnesota consisting of elms, basswoods, maples, and oaks. On a walk in the park you might come across a fox, coyote or deer. In the dense canopy you might see or just hear owls or woodpeckers.Tom and Marilynn feel that a concerted effort and enough volunteers for a handful of years could restore the park to its original glory.

You can contact these Park Stewards via email

marilynntorkelson@gmail.com