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Bailey Point Nature Preserve
| Admission Fee | Free |
Features
- Adjacent to Water
- Bird Watching
- Conservation Easement
- Dog Waste Station
- Fishing
- Monument / Info Sign
- Open Space
- Parking
- Picnic Table
- Prairie
- Scenic Views
- Skiing - Cross Country
- Trail - Grass
- Trail - Paved
- Wooded
Park Map
View a map of the parkView Natural Resource Management Plan
Park Info
1 Morton Avenue - A 24.38-acre nature preserve of historic and scenic property with over 3,300 feet of natural largely untouched shoreline at the confluence of the Mississippi and Elk Rivers.
May 21, 2020 - This park has no facilities as it is an undeveloped nature preserve. Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) is in the midst of a four-year State of Minnesota grant funded preservation project at BPNP.
Over the winter, crews finished invasive woody species removal, getting things closer to the ultimate goal of a savanna (the historical plant community on site), both in terms of tree density and species composition. Next up is a final prep of the seeding areas, which will knock back the weeds and invasive grasses that are popping up this spring. That step should occur over the next week or two, followed by crews seeding the site with roughly 35 diverse species of grasses and wildflowers in early June. Once seeding is completed crews will conduct establishment mows on the newly growing prairie to control weeds and stimulate root growth.
In the time leading up to seeding, a contractor will be on site disposing of logs taken down as part of the invasive woody species removal portion of the project, however some random stick/branch debris will remain as this naturally occurs and is important to the ecosystem of a true nature preserve. Additional mowing and spot spraying will occur periodically throughout the next couple of years to control non-native vegetation and allow the savanna to establish.
In the years to come, visitors can expect to see a variety of colors as the wildflowers and native grasses become established. A mature prairie is expected in three to five years which will provide vital habitat for many animal species and critical pollinators.