I-20 Wildlife Preserve & Jenna Welch Nature Study Center

In the late 1960’s, the property - an 87 acre urban playa lake in its natural state - was donated to the City of Midland with the intention of creating a park. However, the city was never able to budget the money for the park. The Midland Naturalists and a cadre of volunteers maintained the preserve for over 20 years. One of these individuals was Jenna Welch, a birding enthusiast and a member of the Midland Naturalists.

In 2006, Paul Davis, Jr. and Elaine Magruder funded a master plan developed by The Rivers Studio, LLC in Austin, Texas. Focus groups were created to develop the master plan by studying, for example: the economic impact and direction for science education and place for recreation. The master plan was approved by the City of Midland in April of 2007 and was divided into three phases:

Phase I, a conservation phase, is complete. Cattail and Salt Cedar were removed as well as over 2 tons of litter.

Phase II, a construction phase of 3.4 miles of hiking trails, including 1.45 of ADA accessible trails, 7 bird observation blinds, 4 teaching platforms, a 24 foot tall hawk observation platform, and the Merritt Pavilion, is complete. To complete Phase II a $1,000,000 match was made for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Grant.

Phase III is the construction of the 20,000 square foot Jenna Welch Nature Study Center and currently is in the planning stages. Although there is no facility, the JWNSC currently collaborates with local schools, area colleges, and universities to fulfill the education mission for science and general public education. Land was acquired for the JWNSC in the summer of 2014.

The I-20 Wildlife Preserve and Jenna Welch Nature Study Center was formed in 2007 as a non-profit organization to create a public-private cooperation with the City of Midland Parks & Recreation Department through a 40 Year Use Agreement. The I-20 Wildlife Preserve handles the day-to-day operations of the preserve and study center.