Considering that it's smack dab in the middle of Shaker, this is a rather big park. It's private, which means you need a membership (or a free temporary membership) to wander around. But when I was growing up I didn't notice any of that. I just explored the trails that wind through the marsh, the field, the forests, and cross a couple of side streets along the way.
This was a wonderful place to be a child. They have one major building, rather small (and of course sustainable). It's got a gift shop and a single classroom and only a little bit of space left over, but it was enough when I was growing up to learn plenty about the environment.
I think the real lessons came outside, though, on their boardwalk above a marsh and on the trails through a forest. I even remember walking on frozen Shaker Lake with a friend (that's sort of a secret, since it could've gotten us killed, and Mom wasn't too pleased to hear about it).
They hold all sorts of nice events here, some on special Earth holidays. It's always a treat to visit and stand, totally surrounded by trees, in the middle of a city. I remember coming here with Mom to watch a solar eclipse through a cardboard box with a hole punched in the middle. (During a school day! Whoops.)
This park can be a special place for you if you'll let it, and it even manages to accommodate children. That's incredible, and the Nature Center is an asset to its surroundings. If you're in the area frequenly, consider joining or at least looking into it.
more