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Poag Sand Prairie

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Madison County  |  18.5 Acres

Type: Natural Area

Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy

Hours: Open Sunrise to Sunset

Location and Directions: Located on Street Car Road (may be called Wanda Road on google maps or street signs). From I-255, take New Poag Road toward Edwardsville. Turn south on Wanda Road. Follow the road around the curve (it will turn into Street Car Road). Poag Sand Prairie will be on the right between two houses. Parking is located on the grassy shoulder of Street Car Road.

4836 STREET CAR RD, EDWARDSVILLE, IL 62025

Facilities: The site includes a 0.5-mile Tosovsky Family Trail, a non-paved trail through the sand prairie. A pond is also located on the property. There are no restrooms or other facilities on-site at this time.

Beware of dogs. When visiting, please keep in mind that dogs roam the area and may exhibit territorial behavior. Be cautious and respectful of the space to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

Regulations: Open sunrise to sunset 7 days a week. Dogs allowed on leashes. No horses, bicycles, or unauthorized motorized vehicles.

HeartLands Conservancy reserves the right to photograph or video visitors and program participants for promotional use, and usage of our properties implies consent.

Overview

Sand prairies are one of Illinois’ rarest and oldest landscapes. Only 2,400 acres of sand prairies remain in the entire state of Illinois. That’s an area about the size of SIU-Edwardsville.

Poag Sand Prairie is 10 acres and connects to a larger, 40-acre state-owned property in similar condition. Many unique species found on or nearby the property include Tiger salamanders, bobwhite quail, purple-headed sneezeweed, eastern prickly pear, ohio spiderwort, ornate box turtles, and Illinois chorus frogs.  

The property is currently under restoration by HeartLands Conservancy and a dedicated group of volunteers.

Through a partnership between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and HeartLands Conservancy (HLC), the property was purchased by TNC in 2018 and transferred to HLC for permanent protection and management. In 2021, HLC purchased an additional 8.5 acres for prairie restoration and better site access.