Parkville Missouri

Parkville Nature Sanctuary

Reservations | Events | Donations | Sponsorship Program | Contact Us | FOPNS | Sullivan Nature Sanctuary

The Parkville Nature Sanctuary is a wildlife preserve and educational site developed and maintained by the City of Parkville Parks and Recreation with the help of a group of extraordinary volunteers. It is a 115 acre natural outdoor area made accessible by nearly three miles of hiking trails.

The main entrance of the Parkville Nature Sanctuary is at 12th Street, south of Highway 9, at the bottom of the hill next to the Park University athletic fields.

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General Information

Hours:

  • Open every day, sunrise to sunset

Rules:

  • NO dogs or other pets allowed on the trails (see FAQs below for explanation)
  • Stay on trails
  • Put trash in proper receptacles
  • No unauthorized vehicles (including bicycles, skateboards, etc.)
  • No fires
  • No hunting, fishing, or trapping
  • No picking, collecting, or digging
  • No firearms
  • No camping
  • No weddings

Reservations

The Shelter (known as the Girl Scout Cabin) can be reserved in three-hour increments in the Nature Sanctuary. There is no vehicle access nor utilities available at the shelter. All nature sanctuary rules must be followed. Shelters can be reserved by completing the Shelter Reservation Permit and emailing it to City Hall at CityHall@parkvillemo.gov For additional information you may contact Nature Sanctuary Director Kristen Bontrager.


2024 Volunteer Events

Volunteer opportunities include removal of invasive plants, improving and maintaining trails, collecting seeds or donating your professional skills and time to further the impact of our mission. The following Volunteer Work Days and Workshops are scheduled for 2024. Online registration opens on March 1st. To register for a session before March 1st, please email Parkville Nature Sanctuary with your contact information and the date(s) you are committing to volunteering!

  • March 15, 3:30-5 p.m. Learn how to identify and remove invasive Garlic Mustard, Bush Honeysuckle and Privet. We will cover what invasive species are, why we care to remove them and best practices to post removal. We will also learn the best practices for invasive species removal. Informational literature will be distributed via email, or paper for those who prefer paper. We will meet at the picnic tables and hike to the Scout Shelter to learn by a fire. The last first half of class is for the “classroom learning” the second half will be for field work. Must be 16 years old and up to participate. Meet at Parkville Nature Sanctuary entrance.
  • March 22, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Garlic Mustard removal work day led by Wayne Frazier. Learn how to identify and dispose of invasive Garlic Mustard. Must be 8 years old and up to participate. Meet at Parkville Nature Sanctuary entrance.
  • March 22, 3:30-5 p.m. Learn how to clean-up a native plant pollinator garden for spring. We will identify all the nuisance plants and any native species that are coming up and learn why we leave the leaves and leave plant stems up all winter. We will then pull all the weeds, re-mulch the path and dig up the non-native shrubs. We will replace these later in the spring. Must be 12 years old and up to participate, light refreshments provided.
  • March 29, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Garlic Mustard removal work day led by Wayne Frazier. Learn how to identify and dispose of invasive Garlic Mustard. Must be 8 years old and up to participate, parents must stay. Meet at Parkville Nature Sanctuary entrance.
  • March 29, 3:30-5 p.m. Quick refresh of invasive Bush honeysuckle and Privet followed by 1 hour of field work removing invasive species. Must be 16 years old and up to participate. Light refreshments provided. Meet at Parkville Nature Sanctuary entrance.
  • May 23, 11 a.m.– 1 p.m., Garlic Mustard removal work day led by Wayne Frazier. Learn how to identify and dispose of invasive Garlic Mustard. Must be 8 years old and up to participate. Meet at Parkville Nature Sanctuary entrance.
  • May 23, 3:30-5 p.m. Pollinator garden work day. We will identify and list all plants present, re-mulch path, pull all the weeds encroaching into garden, and install native shrubs to replace the non-native ones removed in March. Must be 12 and up to participate. Light refreshments provided. Meet at Parkville Nature Sanctuary entrance.
  • May 31, 11 a.m.– 1 p.m. Final Garlic Mustard removal work day of the year led by Wayne Frazier. Learn how to identify and dispose of invasive Garlic Mustard. Must be 8 years old and up to participate. Meet at Parkville Nature Sanctuary entrance.
  • June 1, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Stream Team Water Quality Monitoring. We will measure the rate of flow of our stream, the turbidity of the water, sample the water to count the macroinvertebrates present and learn how to collect data. Must be 10 years old and up to participate. Meet at Parkville Nature Sanctuary entrance.
  • July 12 and 19, July is Parks and Rec. Month! Join PNS staff for two special Science Fridays in PNS for Stream Team Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring. We will be getting into the stream. Suitable for all ages. Learn all about Stream Team, what macroinvertebrates are, collect samples of macroinvertebrates, how to collect data for official science usage and how to test the rate of flow and describe stream habitat.
  • August 17, 9-11 a.m. First Ghost Stories volunteer meeting! Refreshments and social from 9-9:45 a.m. Meet as a group, assign leadership roles and split into groups. Discuss needs and assign volunteers who want to fill those needs in each group. Last 15 minutes come back as a group and share ideas/ records roles. Held at Parkville City Hall (8880 Clark Ave. Parkville, MO 64152).
  • August 29, 8-10 a.m. Pollinator garden work day, identify and list all plants present. Collect any seed that is ready and document what will be ready for collection soon. Thin Milkweed if needed. Pull all encroaching nuisance plants and identify them. Light refreshments provided. Meet at Parkville Nature Sanctuary entrance.
  • September 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Ghost Stories planning meeting. Meet on-site at PNS and walk trails as a group. Split into small groups and head to locations to discuss in detail what expectations the night of will be. Meet at Scout Shelter at 7 p.m. for a fire and refreshments while we record all ideas and plans. Meet at Parkville Nature Sanctuary entrance.
  • September 19, 5-7:30 p.m. Ghost Stories planning meeting. Each leader of each small group share all new updates with entire group. Meeting at Scout shelter by a fire for entirety of event. Assign tasks not yet complete. Light refreshments provided. Meet at Parkville Nature Sanctuary entrance.
  • September 27, 3-7 p.m. Haunted Trail work day. Build the necessary sets and décor needed for haunted trail. Depending on weather held at either PNS or Parkville City Hall.
  • October 10, 3-7 p.m. Lil Goblins Hour work day. Build and prepare all games and activities for Lil goblins Hour. Depending on weather held at either PNS of Parkville City Hall.
  • October 19, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Ghost Stories meeting and work day. Volunteer potluck. Organize and get all things prepared for day of event. Go over any last minute details and décor. needs. Trim all branches from trails and check trails for any hazards. Set-up lights at the Scout Shelter.
  • October 23, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Set up Scout shelter and S’mores station seating. Arrange straw bales and wood plants into benches. Coffee provided.
  • October 24, All day long set-up and prepare for Pumpkin Carving. Begin cutting and gutting pumpkins at 1:30 p.m. Event begins at 6 p.m. Lunch and Dinner provided. Located at English Landing Park.
  • October 25, All day long set-up from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. for Ghost Stories. All of the sanctuary will be closed so we can work freely. Volunteer leads to arrive not later than 9 a.m. Social time 7-9 p.m. by the S’mores pit fire. Bring your own beverage of choice.
  • October 26, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Set-up and 4-5 p.m. potluck style meal served for volunteers. Volunteers bring your favorite sharable dish or drink for us to have an hour of calm before the event begins. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Ghost Stories!
  • October 27, 12-1 p.m. Meet Scout troop on site for clean-up.
  • December 14, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Set up luminaries for Winter Wonderland self-guided luminary walk.

 


Donations

Check:

Checks may be made out to the Parkville Nature Sanctuary and can dropped off or mailed to: Parkville City Hall, 8880 Clark Avenue, Parkville MO 64152.

Credit Card:

Click to here to make a donation via credit card (convenience fee applied to credit card payments). Please note that this link will take you to an external payment processing page. All donations are tax deductible.


Sponsorship Program

The Parkville Nature Sanctuary Sponsorship Program was set up to enhance programming including Nature Day Camp, Pumpkin Carving and Ghost Stories. Additionally, funds may be allocated to improve our trail system and keep the sanctuary safe and fun for all.

 

Check:

Checks may be made out to the Parkville Nature Sanctuary and can dropped off or mailed to: Parkville City Hall, 8880 Clark Avenue, Parkville MO 64152.

Credit Card:

Click to here to make a donation via credit card (convenience fee applied to credit card payments). Please note that this link will take you to an external payment processing page. All donations are tax deductible.


Nature Sanctuary Staff:

Director: Kristen Bontrager
Assistant Director: Wayne Frazier


Friends of Parkville Nature Sanctuary

In 2015, the Friends of Parkville Nature Sanctuary (FOPNS) was founded as a 501(c)(3) to raise funds for projects at the Sanctuary.  In the fall of 2018, the group launched its website friendsofpns.org where visitors can view projects, purchase items or make a donation.

Robert Fluchel Memorial Butterfly Garden Commemorative Bricks: Gift a Brick

FOPNS is selling commemorative bricks that will be placed around the Robert Fluchel Memorial Butterfly Garden at the entrance to the sanctuary.

The Friends of Parkville Nature Sanctuary is planning ahead for 2023! Their annual calendar featuring images from this year’s monthly photo contest is now on sale. All proceeds will go to projects that are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the sanctuary. For more information visit https://www.friendsofpns.org/store.html.


Sullivan Nature Sanctuary

The Sullivan Nature Sanctuary is located on the north side of Platte Landing Park along Rush Creek, west of the bridge entry. The land was donated by members of the Sullivan family and was dedicated in memory of Edgar and Ruth Sullivan, as well as other family members.  The North Twin and South Twin trails were named after their twin daughters, Kathryn and Virginia. In honor of Maria Ewing, the matriarch of the Sullivan family, the loop trail at end of the North Wing Trail was named the Maria Ewing Trail in April 2015.

Sullivan Nature Sanctuary SignHistory

The sanctuary land was part of 8.64 acres acquired from the Brown and Smalley families in 2006 (4.64 acres were purchased and 4 acres were donated). A total of 3.03 acres became dedicated to the Sullivan Nature Sanctuary and the balance was reserved for future parkland. In 2010, the land was platted and the Brown family donated an additional 1.15 acres to the north, expanding the sanctuary to 4.18 acres. In 2014, the Brown and Smalley families dedicated an additional 3.45 acres to expand the sanctuary to 7.63 acres. The remaining acreage is still reserved for future parkland.


Frequently Asked Questions