Putnam Park
Putnam Park is a 230-acre (0.93 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.
The land for the park was donated to the city of Eau Claire 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.
The park is mostly forested, especially in the areas closest to the Chippewa River. 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.
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