By Jeanne Behrend
On the northeast side of Sun Prairie lies the
Patrick Marsh Natural Resource Area—785 acres of water, wetlands,
and uplands that are being preserved one parcel at a time, through
years of effort on the part of many, many people. Their labors
raise the funds needed to match grants from the Knowles-Nelson
Stewardship Fund, which will help preserve Patrick Marsh forever.
My inspiration to preserve Patrick Marsh comes from the joy and wonder of nature my parents taught me. Both of my parents embraced nature, and from them I learned reverence for the land. After working long hours, nature was a source of comfort for my father. He enjoyed the change of the seasons. For him, the cycle of life was represented by the farmers working the land, community, and nature all blended together in a way that was simultaneously mundane and profoundly spiritual. My mother also loved nature. She shared her observations with the family, reporting on interactions of birds and pointing out various wild animals so we could enjoy spotting the deer, fox, or family of skunks making its way through our yard.
 My father was devoted to Sun Prairie, and he taught me the importance of supporting the community, people, businesses, and education. For me, land preservation is about all these things: community, education, history and culture. It is about the wonder of nature, preserving habitat, and serving God. Patrick Marsh is a vibrant example of God’s handiwork.
Friends, acquaintances, and strangers stop me on the street to encourage me and voice support of my work at Patrick Marsh, but successful preservation of Patrick Marsh is not about me. The more energy I invest, the more support arrives. Local, county and state governments have provided support, which has advanced the preservation of Patrick Marsh in ways exceeding even their generous financial contributions. Experts in land conservation provide the technical expertise to get the job the done. Artists contribute their artwork of Patrick Marsh to be used for fundraising and creating public awareness.
Patrick Marsh is a cultural, historic, environmental, and educational gem for the community and region, and its value in a rapidly growing urban setting is priceless. Marshes and ecosystems cannot be installed just anywhere, so it is important to strategically preserve land that will nurture and educate people forever. When we protect our environment and restore and maintain critical habitat, it is ultimately to benefit and serve people.
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