On a sunny winter’s day, I went for a walk in Valley Water Mill Park, in the north of Springfield, Missouri. There was an incredible diversity of nature. The trail started out on a one and a half mile hiking trail that headed into a bottom land forest. It had optional side spurs that I passed on, on this first visit.
A little, snaking stream full of underwater plant life had a unique, wooden footbridge that was smartly covered in chicken-wire, much appreciated on wetter days. The impressive, little footbridge was designed by award winning, local engineer Jon Williams. According to a Watershed representative, it was mostly built by volunteers and Scouts.
Arrowheads and tools discovered in the area are evidence of Native American habitation. In the 1800s, John McCracken purchased the land and springs, that would later become the park. He built a mill and as I’m finding out, again and again, a community sprouted around the mill.
It was discovered that water flowing out of the mill, followed the South Sac Dry River where it went into the ground and resurfaced at Fulbright Spring, which still in part contributes to Springfield’s water supply. On our land at home, we have a wet weather creek with a spring that sews its way under and over the creek bed.
The park’s land and water were later purchased by city utilities and an improved dam was installed. The dam created a lake as a reservoir for the city. A non-profit group, Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, has a meeting and education center at the park. This group stocks the lake with bass, bluegill and catfish. Park of the hiking trail runs along a walkway over the edge of the lake, with fishing piers.
This park is a good example of locals working together as it is part city park board, part Missouri Department of Conservation (whose parks we already love) and part Watershed Committee of the Ozarks.
As the hiking trail begins its ascent, there’s a zigzagging fence design alongside it that seemed to be made from fallen wood. Hawks soared overhead and were easy to view through the leafless trees of winter. We stopped at a rock ledge lookout over the lake where geese swam below.
Continuing on the hike I spied a bottom view into the hollow of a fallen tree, offering a different perspective and perhaps a home to some lucky park resident. Park signage boasts of foxes among the inhabitants and we missed the 399 plant species that are less obvious in February.
Rounding the back side of the trail with large flat stone, it opens up to a significant dam and bridge. Once over the Kelley-Stokes Pedestrian bridge, a small monument from the Watershed Committee makes note that this park has a function of providing clean water for the community.
Back on the city side of the park, two covered fishing piers, an outdoor learning pavilion and rain gardens edge the park before the trail brings one back to the parking lot.