At Sanders Park, Walk Slowly and Breathe Deeply

In 1930, Racine County became the owner of the land we would later know as Sanders Park after its dedication in honor of local biology teacher, Edwin Sanders. Beautifully forested with ancient basswood, black walnut, sugar maple, shagbark hickory and other native trees, the park surely was worth preserving.

Sitting on the southern edge of Mount Pleasant, Sanders Park is beautifully laid out with a one-way rectangular road that runs counter-clockwise through the park.

On the outside of the road you’ll find various picnic areas and a playground area for children. One of the picnic sites contains a beautiful rustic shelter containing an open-hearth fireplace. The northwest corner of the property hosts a campground with 42 campsites and ample amenities and is nicely tucked beneath the trees. Both picnic sites and campground sites can be reserved, but chances are good you’ll find a place to enjoy a picnic even without reservations.

The road meanders wonderfully for over a mile through the forest and, though a slow drive, gives you a slight taste of the beauty this park provides. To truly appreciate the area, it’s best to park and walk. With very little traffic, the road is safely walked or bicycled, but I recommend taking one of the many trails penetrating the inner portion of the park.

Because of the old-growth hardwood trees and amazing assortment of woodland wildflowers, in 1967 the state of Wisconsin designated the 34 inner acres as the Sanders Park Hardwoods State Natural Area. The State Natural Area program was begun in 1952 for the purpose of identifying beautiful and irreplaceable remnants of natural land and placing sufficient protection on them so we can be assured they will be with us for future generations.

Stepping into the forest, you’ll find yourself amongst the ancient trees. Beneath the canopy, the forest floor is covered with a myriad of wildflowers. Hard to miss in spring are the multitudes of white trillium that grow as richly here as anywhere in the county. Walking these trails in the spring of 2010, I was fortunate to come across a very rare trillium that had four petals instead of the usual three! Also growing in the shadows you’ll find hepatica, anemone, baneberry, Jack-in-the-pulpit, shooting star, marsh marigold and Dutchman’s breeches.

The diversity of plant life at Sanders Park creates a perfect environment for a relatively diverse assortment of birds and animals as well. White-tailed deer, raccoons, squirrels and chipmunks are often seen while the trees provide habitat for various species of woodpeckers. In spring, migrating warblers and other woodland birds can be common.

Sanders Park can be accessed from Wood Road, between Highway KR and Taylor Avenue. You’ll find the park road closed in the winter months but there’s parking available right at the entrance. Even in summer, this is the best place to park.

Once you step into the forest, stop for a minute. Look up and listen, breathe deeply and let go, then step forward and appreciate.