Fernald Preserve Visitors Center — Attraction in Crosby Township

This is actually one of the best kept secret parks on the west side of town. It has miles of lovely walking trails, graveled, nice, beautiful scenery. Good place for wildlife, especially deer and birds. Generally when you go here, you own the place, you are the only one there. It has really nice interior facilities at the visitor center, and they're available for local use just for the asking. I think more people don't go here because they're they're afraid they'll start glowing. It is an ex-nuclear fuel processing site, it is also a Superfund Site, and they've just done a brilliant job with it. Only negative is that they don't allow pets (but they allow horses?! WIUWT?) I guess dogs would be too much of a problem? It is more adult-oriented. There's no playgrounds or anything for kids. There is a shelter area near the visitor center where you can picnic or sit at benches. Some of the trails are suitable for kids, very short, with overlooks to ponds and ducks. It's walking trails and site overlooks and bird watching blinds, all that sort of thing. The trails range from about three tenths of a mile to four to five miles and there's multiple trails with a range of lengths and a range of difficulties. Nothing is super strenuous, but several of them do have more incline to them and are less gravelled and somewhat more primitive. The trails that aren't gravel can be slick without warning, they do retain some water even when it's...

I see a lot of people posting what a great clean up. Your government has fooled everyone on this project for centuries. There is still uranium in the ground that is in silos buried underground. Those silos couldn't be removed do to crumbling concrete. Don't you think that will leak in the ground at some point? These silos are buried under a huge pile of dirt that looks like a mound if you look to the east as you come into Fernald. This is not a park it's a cover up to make people think it's cleaned up. Ask yourself and the government why there are restricted areas in a park? You know why? The ground is still contaminated. Don't be fooled. I have lived around fernald my whole life and everyone that lived around it is dying from cancer. When I was a kid they painted the water tower red and white checkered flag and everyone around there believed it was a Purina dog food company. It was just another big cover-up. There is a big aquifer under the whole preserve. That a lot of new people in the area are not aware of. Many of the farms wells were condemned in the area. So yes it may look good on the cover but what about the inside. Like the old saying goes don't judge a book...

This preserve was really a treat. In all honesty the welcome center is closed due to current Covid19 restrictions but that doesn't mean the trails are closed. These are well maintained trails with optionbenches placed for resting if needed. I would call these trails easy for even a beginner at hiking. The views are breathtaking. We arrived early in the morning after a frost and were completely delighted by the views. The water had a thin layer of ice and the frost was still present on the branches. During our hike we saw a large gathering of deer with the buck still bedding down. I would really recommend enjoying all the trails in one day. We completed the eight miles in a little under two hours. There is a portable toilet if needed. I would also encourage drink and a snack for along the...