From Judy Gilleland - City Manager

Thanks to the hard work of the Tree Commission, Keep Middletown Beautiful and Bull’s Run volunteers Steve Lewis, Jeff Michel, Jeff McMullen and Barb Reuss who have put in thousands of hours to create this wonderful addition to our community.

The natural area has been made into a 3/8 mile trail with large stones along the way inviting guests to sit and enjoy the peaceful setting. An area near the entrance off Autumn Drive in Manchester Park (under the water tower in the Northeastern part of Middletown) is just right for guests of all sizes to climb, build, crawl through and enjoy Mother Nature’s Playground.

A shelter house for picnics, wild flowers, birds, bugs, squirrels and deer, unusual trees such as Pawpaws and ground cover not found in your neighbor’s yard make this a perfect setting for an afternoon stroll. Challenge the kids to find the Siamese tree - two separate parts growing together as one.

Naturally, nothing like this happens without a lot of effort such as donated professional services, financial support from AK Steel and Middletown Community Foundation, and thousands of hours of labor invested by volunteers and City of Middletown crews.

The Armbruster Nature Preserve will stand as a reminder of James Armbruster, local florist, community volunteer and City Councilman who loved all things connected to nature.

The Preserve is there to promote exploration and a lifetime of learning as an outdoor classroom waiting for the elementary class visits and the high school and college science students.

For more information about the Armbruster Nature Preserve and other outdoor projects– visit www.keepmiddletownbeautiful.com.