Al Sabo Preserve
Al Sabo Preserve is an area of northeastern Texas Township, in southwestern Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It comprises 741 acres (3.00 km2) of marsh, forest, streams, and rolling hills. Numerous trails provide recreational opportunities throughout the Preserve.
Al Sabo Preserve is located between Interstate 94 to the north, Texas Drive to the south, 12th Street to the east, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College at 9th Street and O Ave to the west. Atwater Millpond lies at the northeast corner of the Al Sabo Preserve, fed by the west branch of Portage Creek, which flows through Al Sabo Preserve, and forms a tributary for the Kalamazoo River. Camp Rota-Kiwan Boy Scout camp lies at the southwest corner of Al Sabo Preserve. Although Hiking trails may cross this boundary, there are numerous "No Trespassing" signs.
Access to the Al Sabo Preserve is gained through an entrance on Texas Drive, near the intersection of Texas and 10th Avenue. A parking lot for Al Sabo Preserve is located next to the Texas Drive entrance to Camp Rota-Kiwan. Foot trails lead into Al Sabo Preserve from the Rota-Kiwan Boy Scout Camp, and from the campus of Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Mountain biking is a popular activity in Al Sabo Preserve [1]. Over two thirds of the trails were closed to cycling as a result of a dispute over land use, seven miles (11 km) remain open. These trails include Moab, Atwater, Lookout, and Mandala.
Two boardwalks are present (but not easy to find) in Al Sabo Preserve, providing access to the water from the hiking trails above. In addition, numerous overlooks provide panoramic views of the Preserve, particularly in the winter and spring.
Wildlife abounds in Al Sabo Preserve. Bird species are particularly numerous, including many migrants during the spring; year-round species are also plentiful with both woodland songbirds and waterfowl including duck, goose, and swan. As of fall 2016, 167 species have been identified within the preserve (see eBird.org, Kalamazoo county). Sandhill cranes nest in the preserve. Muskrat and perhaps beaver[2] occasionally create dams on Portage Creek, causing flooding upstream in the spring, and inundation of the Atwater Millpond shoreline when cleared. Deer, fox, coyote, raccoons, squirrels, and other mammals reside in the area. Fish include bass, bluegill, perch, and crappie. Soft-shell, snapping, and other turtle species populate the area, laying eggs near the sandy road that bisects the preserve.
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