Are you looking to spend more time outdoors—whether for a quiet walk, a chance to see wildlife, or simply some space to relax? The places featured below offer a range of experiences, from restored wetlands, prairies, wooded trails, and open meadows.
While many of these places are owned by Heartlands Conservancy, we’re also featuring conservation projects owned and managed by partner organizations. Some of these lands were donated, others were purchased, and all help strengthen our connection to nature at a time when that connection is more important than ever.
Each location has its own character. We invite you to explore, discover what speaks to you, and enjoy what these protected places have to offer. If you’re interested in our places not yet open to the public, visit our Wildlife Reserves page.
Explore Columbia AMERICAN Legion Park Columbia, IL | 17 Acres Type: Park Owned by: City of Columbia, Illinois Our role: Given the limited amount of open space in southern Illinois communities, HeartLands Conservancy assisted the City of Columbia with grant...
Explore Kidd Lake Marsh Monroe County, IL | 445 Acres Type: Natural Area and State Park Owned by: State of Illinois - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Our role: Given the ecological importance of the Mississippi River area's wetlands, HeartLands Conservancy...
Explore Middle Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge Monroe, Randolph, and Jackson Counties (IL) and Jefferson County (MO) | 1,224 acres (Rockwood Island only) Type: Natural Area Owned by: US Fish and Wildlife Service Our Role: Because the Mississippi River and lands...
Explore White Rock Nature Preserve Monroe County, IL | 475 acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: Clifftop Our role: With less than 1% of prairies remaining in Illinois, HeartLands Conservancy and Clifftop jointly acquired 475 acres of rare hill prairies and forest in...
