Holliday Nature Preserve Association

11/03/2026

Last Thursday was a perfect Fall day, so off to Holliday Preserve. Surprised to see more work in Ellsworth section. One of the wooden bridges is gone. It was replaced with a large culvert.
Of course a large culvert required equipment to install. Walked further to find a small culvert already done, and another awaiting installation. The boardwalk viewing platform not done yet.
Sadly, two very tall hackberry trees have fallen. Many changes to see on a future walk. Walked about in Koppernick section. Great Fall color and falling leaves.

10/26/2026

A large group gathered in Holiday Plaza on Saturday to walk down to the new Cowan section (East) entrance off Wayne Road bridge. The entrance is unfinished, but useable.
The trail is a rough cut through the trees. We walked across the new boardwalk, then struggled a bit up a steep slope. The walk was a mix between enjoying the colorful trees and checking out the grant work. Stopped at overlook to see conditions at Joy Road bridge. Went on to see material used for cover over old road. Took time to identify trees with our youngest walkers.
Thirty-one walked in, plus we had Bob Duda who waved to us from the north side of Joy Road bridge.

10/20/2026

Join us this Saturday at 10am as we walk the east section of Cowan. We will park and meet at the Holiday Plaza Shopping Center on the west side of Wayne Road, just south of Joy Road. It will be our first walk through the new Cowan entrance that goes to the bridge at the Joy Road entrance. There will be some steep slopes and a chance to see how much as changed this past year.

10/15/2026

Took a test walk for our October 24 walk into Cowan section, from the new entrance on west side of Wayne Road. Parked at Holiday Plaza, then walked to fence opening. Got surprise number one, finding workers installing boardwalk on floodplain.
Went on to the new Joy Road bridge project. They are slowly working on elevated boardwalk. Went on to newly surfaced, old roadbed.
This took me to surprise number two. The Cowan parking area has been graded and prepared for concrete. Much has changed.

10/12/2026

I think warm weather, fall colors and Facebook all played a big part in drawing a crowd for our Ellsworth-West walk. Just before we started, the count was 32, with more people getting out of their cars. A good mix of members and new people.
Main purpose for walk was to see changes made in this section. A good deal of invasive plant cutting, shredding, and herbicide spraying has opened the forest floor to sunlight. We checked the new viewing platform/boardwalk at Wayne Road. Work is in progress.
HNPA did not host walks in this section for several years due to thick overgrowth and the MDOT rebuild of Wayne Road. We were pleased that Wayne County Parks Director, Erika Smith, and her husband joined us in this very long, single file parade. Native wildflowers are now getting some sunlight.
(Thanks to Dean Johnson for these photos)

10/05/2026

Join us Saturday, October 10, at 10 a.m. for Fall Color Walk 1. We will walk west to Wayne Road from the new parking lot on Ann Arbor Trail and check out the new boardwalk and viewing platform. We'll see how the area has changed since invasive plants were reduced. More fall color?
Meet in the parking lot off Ann Arbor Trail just west of Hines Drive, Ellsworth West. And LOOK FOR BILL!

09/30/2026

Walked Ellsworth Trail from the east on Saturday. Twenty people, including two first timers. No Fall colors yet. Some mosquitos. Had to share trail with a large number of cross-country runners. For most walkers this was first look at changes from grant work. Much approval of the new boardwalk. Still very dry conditions on floodplain. Recent rain did help sprout some fungi.
Nice population of giant puffballs. Took time to explain transition of paper newsletter to digital. All seemed to enjoy getting back into the Preserve with cheerful company.

09/26/2026

Now that you've enjoyed a walk on this beautiful fall morning, put your feet up and relax with our new newsletter. Available at our website, hnpa.org. And remember to add our upcoming walks to your calendar.

09/21/2026

Early Fall Walk, Saturday, September 26, 10 a.m. Join us for a walk in Ellsworth, where we'll have a chance to see how the area has changed since invasive plants were reduced. We'll use the new boardwalk to cross the floodplain and enjoy the early fall color. Park at Nankin Mills on Hines Drive, east of Ann Arbor Trail.

09/21/2026

Early Fall Walk, Saturday, September 26, 10 a.m. Join us for a walk in Ellsworth, where we'll have a chance to see how the area has changed since invasive plants were reduced. We'll use the new boardwalk to cross the floodplain and enjoy the early fall color. Park at Nankin Mills on Hines Drive, east of Ann Arbor Trail.

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