Thank you for your support of the Friends of Blue Mound State Park in 2024. The park continues to experience record numbers of visitors and the Friends have continued working tirelessly in their mission of enhancing and preserving the park to ensure all park visitors have a good experience. The Read more…
It was a big year of restoration at Swain Prairie and Upper Walnut Prairie in Blue Mound State Park. In February, Adaptive Restoration LLC was awarded a 3-year contract for actively restoring these areas. During the first month we took stock of the condition of the prairies and worked with the Friends, Park Read more…
The staff at Blue Mound State Park would like to give a heart-felt thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who donated their time, expertise, and energy this year to the park. It doesn’t go unrecognized or unappreciated. While the closure of 2024 marks the end of a very busy Read more…
Join CORP and fellow biking enthusiasts for two group rides on the Blue Mound State Park trails. Find more events at contact CORP at madcitydirt.com. Weekday Group Ride Wednesday, October 165:30pmMeet in the BMSP parking lot by the MTB Kiosk The days are getting shorter. The group will start off Read more…
There was a small and motivated volunteer group turn out for seed collection on September 24th. With the sun still warm and bright in the sky, the group headed into the Walnut Prairie with buckets and bags in hand in search of native prairie plants with seed ready for collecting. Read more…
September 24 5:00 – 7:00 pm Help with the ongoing prairie restoration project by collecting prairie seeds. Volunteers should wear long pants, socks, good walking shoes, and gloves. Also bring a hat, long-sleeved shirt, water bottle, and hand pruners if you have them. Seed collection bags and extra pruners will be Read more…
The prairies in the park are looking great. A few patches of ragweed and crown vetch have re-sprouted in Swain Prairie since treatments earlier in the season. Those patches will be cut prior to going to seed. Adaptive Restoration and volunteers have done well with the herbaceous weeds throughout the Read more…
The prairies are really starting to take off given mid summer rain and sun. Adaptive Restoration recently performed a site visit of each of the prairies on July 12. All in all, they are pleased with the post-burn and post-spray effects of the 2024 spring season. The crown vetch and Read more…
Summer in the park is anything but boring. The pool/splash pad is open, wildflowers are blooming, and the sun almost refuses to set. June was a whirlwind of events and we’re just getting started. The summer is full of music and excursions for all park adventurers. UPCOMING EVENTS Click on Read more…
There were some definite highlights during recent field days; including flowering purple milkweed (pictured), tall thimbleweed (pictured), lots of gentian, and native thistles. The crown vetch was thick in much of Swain Prairie so there will be significant zones of dead plants in the interest of the long-term welfare of Read more…