We encourage green travel and our Earth-friendly conservation efforts ensure a positive experience for all our eco-minded visitors.
Flame skimmer dragonfly
Libellula saturata
If you're in Midland and need some green space, two favorite activities at the Preserve are bird/butterfly watching and trail walking. Nearly four miles of foot–travel trails keep the experience intimate with nature. You’ll share the habitat with horned lizards, dragonflies, butterflies, and hopefully, catch a glimpse of a bobcat or spot that one furtive bird species still on your wish list. During the bird/butterfly migration months, it’s hot and sunny here, so head out early and bring sustainable necessities like sunscreen, bug spray, hats, and loose-fitting clothing. Grab your phone, camera, and binoculars – the playa is filled with memories ready to be discovered.
BUTTERFLY GARDEN & MEADOW
Emulating a prairie landscape, the butterfly meadow and gardens are botanical caches of carefully selected flowering plants, shrubs, and native grasses used as food sources or host plants for a variety of butterflies in the region.
86-ACRE URBAN PLAYA
A playa lake is a very specific type of wetland in the southern high plains; shallow, round, and most importantly ephemeral. The urban playa of the I20 Wildlife Preserve, with its surrounding feral forest, prairie grasses, and ponds is a rich center for biodiversity.
CONSERVATION EFFORTS
Our holistic land management practice seeks to conserve the vibrant nature of the urban playa environment. Careful removal of invasive plant species opens the watershed to a greater biodiversity of aquatic and avian wildlife, fortifies the ecological integrity of native plants and animals, and maintains the wild space for future generations to enjoy.
