The Middleton Public Lands Department oversees all park and conservancy land within the City of Middleton.

The Department is responsible for all planning, maintenance and yearly improvements on the land within its jurisdiction.

This wetland is located on the northwest side of Lake Mendota.  The conservancy features natural springs and seeps which flow into Pheasant Branch Creek and lake Mendota at a rate of 1,800 gallons of water per minute.  The northern portion of the conservancy is owned and maintained by Dane County Parks, while the remaining southern portion is owned and maintained by the City of Middleton.  The oak savannas, prairies, and wetlands of the conservancy are home to an abundance of native vegetation and wildlife species including the endangered Blandings turtle.  In 1996, the Northern Lake Mendota Regional Plan was developed to serve as a master plan for managing the Pheasant Branch Conservancy.  This plan will be used to develop nature-based recreational opportunities for residents and provide restoration guidance.  A self-guided interpretive trail system is being developed which will allow visitors to enjoy the area and will link the conservancy to a county-wide greenway corridor.  This natural setting offers a quiet refuge for wildlife viewers, hikers, and bird watchers.

Stricker Pond is Middleton's larges kettle pond, with its surrounding watershed consisting of 557 acres.  The north side of the pond features a 5 acre mesic prairie as well as a hiking trail from Middleton Street west to the neighborhood park.  Nature lovers, children, and exercisers can enjoy the entire area.  Most of the pond's herbaceous shoreline vegetation is dominated by reed canary grass, which will be restored to wet prairie areas.  Waterfowl spotted in the fowl area include the blue-winged teal, mallards, wood ducks, green herons, Canadian geese, cattle egrets, and double-crested cormorants.  The west side of the pond provides ample oak woodlands and a hiking trail that leads south to the City of Madison's Conservancy Area.

Directions:
From University Ave., turn south on Gammon Rd., west on Fortune Dr., north on Sweeney Dr., then west on Voss Pkwy.  On-street parking is available at Stricker Park.  Map

This kettle pond area was formerly part of the George Tiedeman family farm in Middleton's earlier years, and was once an encampment area for Native Americans.  Today the pond and shoreline buffer areas serve as a conservancy area.  The site's vegetation consists mostly of invasive reed canary grass in the buffer area surrounding the pond.  Restoration activities are underway, including eradication of invasive species, native prairie and wet prairie seeding, hiking trail development, and construction of a wildlife viewing platform.  This shallow kettle pond is home to numerous amphibians and reptiles including garter snakes, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, green frogs, spring peepers, and spotted salamanders.

Directions:
From University Ave., turn south on Gammon Rd., west on Fortune Dr., north on Sweeney Dr., then west on Voss Pkwy.  On-street parking is available at Woodside Park.  Map

This wetland conservancy is located on the city's northern boundary.  The 27 acre site is uniquely bowl shaped, sloping down toward the pond.  The vegetation of the area reflects the changes in topography, with an oak and hickory woodland, large cottonwood trees mixed with cherry trees residing on the steep slopes, and reed canary grass near the pond's edges.  The pond is home to a variety of waterfowl including wood ducks, mallards, blue-winged teal, giant Canadian geese, great blue herons, and green herons,  This area's seclusion provides for excellent bird viewing opportunities and passive nature based recreation activities.

Directions:
From Hwy. 12, exit east on Graber Rd.; On-street parking is available.  Map

This pond is part of the south fork of the Pheasant Branch Creek.  The site consists mainly of a restored prairie wetland and provides hiking trails.  There is a 3 acre resorted wet prairie area on the northern edge of the pond and over 11 acres of grassland prairie along the south fork of the Pheasant Branch Creek.  A paved bicycle and pedestrian path passes thorough these restoration areas from Greenway Boulevard to Market Street north to Terrace Avenue.

Directions:
From Hwy 12, exit west on Greenway Blvd., then turn north on Deming Way.  Map

Middleton Public
Lands Department
7426 Hubbard Avenue
Middleton, WI  53562
(608) 827-1044