Wagner Preserve

About the Preserve

160 acres in Liberty Township in the northern part of the county.

The site was acquired in 2020 by purchase using Clean Ohio Grant funds.

Some of the activities you can enjoy at this preserve are observing the heron rookery and other wildlife from the trail.

Nature Preserve Rules

Use of a nature preserve is for passive recreation, nature observation, research, and education.  Certain activities are prohibited for the safety and preservation of the plants and wildlife.  Below are a few points to remember:

• Visitors are required to stay on trails.
• No pets (except assistance animals)
• No collection of any plant, animal, or other substance
• No hunting and fishing on nature preserve and natural areas

Natural Surface Trail

This 0.5-mile-long trail is accessed from the school property near the Land Lab entrance.  It provides opportunities to view the heron rookery.

The preserve’s location adjacent to Liberty Union-Thurston School District’s elementary school, middle school, and district office, along with direct connection to their 40-acre land lab, will provide opportunities for expanded educational programming to students, teachers, and administrators. In 2025, following research and coordination by FFA students and staff from the school and park district, a remote feed camera was installed to provide real-time monitoring of a blue heron nest (see below).

The most remarkable feature of this preserve is the heron rookery. It is one of the largest Great Blue Heron rookeries south of the Lake Erie watershed. At last count, there were over 50 active nests!

The camera is solar-powered.  The feed may be interrupted on overcast and cloudy days or during inclement weather.