The Power of One Man's Vision
By Christine Nuernberg, Mayor, City of Mequon

There is no better example of how one person can change the course of events than the story of the Mequon Nature Preserve.

During the summer of 2000, Mr. Richard “Dick” Paddock looked out his window from his apartment in a retirement community to see a landscape of quintessential Wisconsin farmland just across the county line from where he lived. While Milwaukee County Kohl Park lay below his 6th floor apartment, he thought it would be grand if he gave a gift from his fund at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation to neighboring Ozaukee County to establish a park that would exist alongside Kohl Park. His fondest hope was to see two governments working together, in a significant display of intergovernmental cooperation, to establish a facility for the region.

When Ozaukee County passed on Dick’s offer, his representatives contacted the city of Mequon to determine its interest in a gift to buy land. Dick would say, with a twinkle in his eye, “The City of Mequon bit and away we went.” Mequon citizens have long expressed their desire to maintain green space in their community where almost 10,000 acres is still undeveloped. Embarking on an effort to save a little more green space was an easy decision.

With Dick’s offer, Mequon immediately contacted the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust to ask for its help. OWLT had an even better idea: “Why not purchase the entire section of land, all 640 acres?” So the partnership and the goals were set: OWLT, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the City of Mequon would purchase one square mile of land to develop a premier environmental education and recreation facility to serve the region.

Without the unique competencies of each of the partners, the effort to establish the Mequon Nature Preserve would not likely have been successful. OWLT became the broker conducting all real estate transactions, and will place a conservation easement on the land when it transfers the title to the city, ensuring that the land will forever remain a nature preserve. Because of OWLT’s proven track record, they will also manage the property and its restoration. The Greater Milwaukee Foundation took on the role of advisor and banker. All gifts are deposited in the Mequon Nature Preserve Fund at the Foundation where the fund is professionally managed. Donors are assured that their gifts are disbursed only for Nature Preserve expenses. Finally, the City of Mequon, which has taken on the responsibility of coordinating a fund raising effort, brings security to the project and provides a number of in-kind services.

Today, exactly six years later, a great effort is unfolding. The Mequon Nature Preserve is 438 acres large and the process to restore the land to its 1830’s beauty when it was covered with a hardwood forest and wetlands is underway. A team of volunteers including university professors, farmers, and other environmental specialists created a plan that continues to guide our land stewardship and restoration program. For the third year in a row, the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association has removed drain tiles, and beautiful wetlands are emerging, which birds are now finding. Many volunteers have spent countless hours planting tree seeds and seedlings. Most of the funding needed to construct a trail system has been secured and the first trail loop is now in. At the moment, much of the focus is on transforming an existing 12,000 square foot building into the PieperPower Education Center. All building renovations are being done in a manner to achieve platinum LEED certification. The LEED green building rating system is the industry-recognized, voluntary standard that defines high performance structures, which are healthier and more environmentally responsible.

When our journey started, none of us knew what was ahead. But with the contributions of time and talent from the broadest array of organizations and individuals, an amazing facility is developing. The speed with which this enormous project has come together is surprising to all of us. But, we quickly realized that the Mequon Nature Preserve is not for us but a legacy for future generations. For whatever reason, when Dick called, the partners answered, and our community has been changed forever.

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The Mequon Nature Preserve is a 438-acre natural area within the City of Mequon. Plans for the preserve include an education center, a trail system, and a volunteer-powered effort to restore native hardwoods by collecting and planting seeds and seedlings. Over $1 million in Stewardship funds have been dedicated to establishing the Mequon Nature Preserve.