BRISTOL, Wis. — The Pringle Nature Center will continue operating at Bristol Woods Park for at least another decade after Kenosha County and the nonprofit organization entered into a new 10-year lease agreement.
Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman joined county parks officials and Pringle Nature Center leaders Wednesday for a ceremonial signing of the agreement, which was recently approved by the Kenosha County Board.
“This is really a great partnership that started many years ago, and I want to thank our forefathers for putting this together,” a county spokesperson said. “This is what makes us stronger as a community and a county, when we work together with our public-private partnerships.”
The Pringle Nature Center traces its roots to a $50,000 donation made in 1983 by the family of Robert D. Pringle, a Bristol farmer, longtime member of the Kenosha County Parks Commission and avid outdoorsman. The donation grew with interest to $112,000 by the time the nature center building was constructed in 1997.
Today, the center serves as a hub for environmental education in southeastern Wisconsin, offering programs for school groups, youth organizations, families and adults. It is also a frequent destination for school field trips.
The center hosts a number of recurring community events throughout the year, including its Fall Fun Festival, scheduled this year from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Other programming includes a Groundhog Day celebration, nature story times, trail runs, hikes and additional educational and recreational activities.
Bristol Woods Park, located at 9800 160th Ave., also known as Highway MB, encompasses 197 acres of upland forest, wetlands, oak savannah remnants and prairie habitat. The park includes more than four miles of trails and is also home to Boundless Adventures, another public-private partnership involving Kenosha County.
Kenosha County Parks and Pringle Nature Center jointly host the Bristol Woodstock concert series each Wednesday during the summer. Wednesday’s lease-signing ceremony was held before the final concert of this year’s season.
Pringle Nature Center is led by Executive Director Elizabeth Alvey and operates with the assistance of additional employees and volunteers.
“We just want to thank the county for the support and for giving us another 10 years to operate the nature center,” Pringle Board Chairman Nick Spittlemeister said. “We’re looking forward to all the things that we can do here and beyond in the county.”
More information about the Pringle Nature Center and its programs is available through the organization’s website.
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