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Nature Preserve
We invite our neighbors and the wider community to walk through and enjoy our Nature Preserve—a peaceful place to experience the beauty of creation, observe wildlife, and find moments of rest and reflection.
As part of our commitment to caring for God’s creation, we transformed a four-acre hay field into a thriving Nature Preserve. Beginning in 2022, we planted more than 400 native trees representing 17 species and created a network of walking paths that connect different areas of our property, including access from both Diamond Street and Diamond Station Road.
Since then, the preserve has continued to grow. Native grasses and flowering perennial meadows have been established, along with more than 100 additional native trees and shrubs. Today, the preserve features more than 50 species of native plants and has become home to an increasing diversity of birds, butterflies, pollinators, and other wildlife.
Benches along the paths provide places to rest, and visitors can access meditative readings using QR codes on their mobile devices. We are delighted to welcome families and well-behaved, leashed dogs.
Families can also enjoy our StoryWalk®, where pages from a children’s book are displayed along the trail and changed regularly throughout the year. The preserve serves as part of the outdoor learning space for Diamond Street Early Childhood Center, and we welcome visits from local elementary school classes for environmental education.
Located beside our church cemetery, the Nature Preserve provides a beautiful and peaceful setting for reflection and remembrance. It also offers an appropriate location for green burials and brings comfort to those visiting loved ones.
Our Nature Preserve lies between the Akron Lloyd Roland Park and the Mennonite Central Committee Natural Area, expanding the network of green space in our community. Through native plantings and thoughtful stewardship, it contributes to local biodiversity and creates healthier habitat for wildlife while offering a welcoming place for people to connect with nature.
Come visit. A parking area is designated near the church entrance.
