Putnam Park
Encyclopedia
Putnam Park is a 230 acre (0.9307778 km²) natural area owned by the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. The park is located in the middle of the city of Eau Claire
and follows the course of both the Chippewa River
to the west and Little Niagara Creek to the east. Much of the park lies on the boundary of the Third Ward neighborhood. The park sits directly south of a steep section of Harding Avenue, once called "Plank Hill
."
The park is administered by Putnam Park Commission, a body composed of representatives from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, the Eau Claire City Council
, and the community at large.
in 1909 by Henry Cleveland Putnam
. The 230-acre parcel was set in a low-lying area, which Putnam hoped would be conserved as a botanical
laboratory due to the many species of trees and plants found there. In 1957, ownership of the land was transferred from the city to Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire, under the administration of W. R. Davies
.
. Impressive red pine
and white pine
trees dominate the mesic
forest portions, while in the wet-mesic portions, river birch
, silver maple
, hackberry, red maple
and paper birch
varieties can be found.
Putnam Park is also an excellent place to see wildlife
. Despite being located in an otherwise urban setting, visitors have often described seeing large mammals like deer
, woodchucks
, and beaver
s. The park also offers spectacular birdwatching, with species like hawks
, wild turkey
s, woodpeckers
and eagles
being sighted regularly.
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
and follows the course of both the Chippewa River
Chippewa River (Wisconsin)
The Chippewa River in Wisconsin flows approximately 183 miles through west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. It was once navigable for approximately 50 miles of its length, from the Mississippi River, by Durand, northeast to Eau Claire. Its catchment defines a portion of the northern boundary...
to the west and Little Niagara Creek to the east. Much of the park lies on the boundary of the Third Ward neighborhood. The park sits directly south of a steep section of Harding Avenue, once called "Plank Hill
Plank Hill
Plank Hill is a local landmark between the East Hill and Third Ward neighborhoods of Eau Claire, Wisconsin and borders Putnam Park. It is near the corner of Jefferson Street and Harding Avenue....
."
The park is administered by Putnam Park Commission, a body composed of representatives from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, the Eau Claire City Council
Eau Claire City Council
The Eau Claire City Council is the non-partisan 11-member governing council of the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Members of the City council are elected at-large and by district.- Members :...
, and the community at large.
History
The land for the park was donated to the city of Eau ClaireEau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
in 1909 by Henry Cleveland Putnam
Henry Cleveland Putnam
Henry Cleveland Putnam was a philanthropist and a lumber baron in the Chippewa Valley of Wisconsin, also serving as a member of the Wisconsin State Forestry Commission. In Eau Claire he is called H.C. Putnam. He donated the land for the eponymous Putnam Park in Eau Claire.-Early life:Henry Putnam...
. The 230-acre parcel was set in a low-lying area, which Putnam hoped would be conserved as a botanical
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
laboratory due to the many species of trees and plants found there. In 1957, ownership of the land was transferred from the city to Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire, under the administration of W. R. Davies
W. R. Davies
William Robert Davies was a Wisconsin educator who was named the second president of Eau Claire State Teachers College in December 1940...
.
Flora and fauna
The park is mostly forested, especially in the areas closest to the Chippewa RiverChippewa River (Wisconsin)
The Chippewa River in Wisconsin flows approximately 183 miles through west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. It was once navigable for approximately 50 miles of its length, from the Mississippi River, by Durand, northeast to Eau Claire. Its catchment defines a portion of the northern boundary...
. Impressive red pine
Red Pine
Pinus resinosa, commonly known as the red pine or Norway pine, is pine native to North America. The Red Pine occurs from Newfoundland west to Manitoba, and south to Pennsylvania, with several smaller, disjunct populations occurring in the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and West Virginia, as well...
and white pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
trees dominate the mesic
Mesic habitat
In ecology, a mesic habitat is a type of habitat with a moderate or well-balanced supply of moisture, e.g., a mesic forest, a temperate hardwood forest, or dry-mesic prairie. Compared to a dry habitat, a mesic habitat is moister....
forest portions, while in the wet-mesic portions, river birch
River Birch
Betula nigra is a species of birch native to the eastern United States from New Hampshire west to southern Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and east Texas...
, silver maple
Silver Maple
The silver maple —also called creek maple, river maple, silverleaf maple, soft maple, water maple, or white maple—is a species of maple native to eastern North America in the eastern United States and Canada...
, hackberry, red maple
Red Maple
Acer rubrum , is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern North America. It ranges from the Lake of the Woods on the border between Ontario and Minnesota, east to Newfoundland, south to near Miami, Florida, and southwest to east Texas...
and paper birch
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera is a species of birch native to northern North America.-Description:...
varieties can be found.
Putnam Park is also an excellent place to see wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
. Despite being located in an otherwise urban setting, visitors have often described seeing large mammals like deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, woodchucks
Groundhog
The groundhog , also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, or in some areas as a land-beaver, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Other marmots, such as the yellow-bellied and hoary marmots, live in rocky and mountainous areas, but...
, and beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
s. The park also offers spectacular birdwatching, with species like hawks
Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West...
, wild turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
s, woodpeckers
Red-bellied Woodpecker
The Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus, is a medium-sized woodpecker of the Picidae family. It breeds in southern Canada and the northeastern United States, ranging as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas...
and eagles
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
being sighted regularly.