Friends of Maple Woods Nature Preserve

WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE 7.3 ACRES WILL YOU HELP US? 100$ will save a tree! The Flora and Fauna of Missouri is being replaced we can preserve some of it.

Please visit the Natural Area click here to get directions from Google maps here! Take a walk in the forest you will want to help out after you do.

A view of the 7.3 acres from a main trail of the existing preserve.

A view of the proposed purchase from the main trail.

A view of the creek in the 7.3 acres from the trail.
Seems huge but remember this much forest can be cleared and flattening in less than a week with modern heavy equipment. We believe that the Maple Woods Nature Preserve would be harmed if the above property were ever developed. We have a historic opportunity to add 7.3 acres to the Preserve and a good price. We had always assumed that piece of land was part of the preserve but ... it wasn't. To this end, we have partnered with The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation to collect the funds for the purchase of this property. The Friends of Maple Woods Nature Preserve was created in late 2007. So far we have received permission from the owner, Gladstone Parks, and Missouri Conservation to go ahead we have collected 100s of the total donations needed to make the purchase. You can be a hero by sending in your donation. Your donation is 100% tax deductible and will be used only for this project. All costs are being absorbed by volunteers.

To donate online below be Sure to Put Maple Woods in the Comments

$4,068.72 actual total

View successful projects that MOCHF has been involved in.

100% of your donation can be used if you mail your check to:

Maple Woods Project - Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation P.O. Box 366 Jefferson City Missouri 65102-0366 By Tel: 573-634-2080 or 800-227-1488 Between the hours of 9am and 5pm CST

View or Download a PDF of our Flier and Donation Forms

Still need some more convincing???

Adding this piece of land to the preserve will help in many ways.

  • Wildlife habitat.
  • Cleaner air - Studies have shown that forests act as pollution control.
  • Carbon offset - Over a 50-year lifetime, a tree generates $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water, and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion. [USDA Forest Service Pamphlet #R1-92-100} Total offset for this project estimated at 18.98 tons per year.
  • Greenhouse gas reduction
  • Expanded trails and educational opportunities for children.
  • Biodiversity and preservation of Missouri's unique flora and fauna in an intact environment.
  • Maintaining the beauty and isolation of the Current preserve.

    • For additional info, to schedule a power point presentation. Contact Greg Montgomery Email The Friends of Maple Woods

    See our news coverage

    KC Star Story 2-9-08 (no longer online)

    2008/01/31/sun_tribune Sun Times Tribune Article (no longer online)

    Dog Wood Alliance

    Fox 4 News at 10 WDAF (no longer online)

    The Preserve is unique in several ways. It is a National and State recognized historic natural area. This area contains virgin uncut stands of Hard Maple, Oak and Hickory trees. The Maple stand is said to be the largest in the Midwest. The Maple Woods Nature Preserve is owned by the Missouri Conservation Department and the visitor trails are maintained by the City of Gladstone. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1980. The Natural area was one of Missouri's first. It has never been logged or farmed and KC Wildlands has removed most invasive species. The understory is paw paw and woodland flowers including rare native orchids. As individuals we can do very little but together we are capitalism's answer to shrinking Missouri Forest ecosystems right here in Kansas City.

    For more information about the existing Maple Woods Nature Preserve follow these links

    Missouri Department of Conservation , Missouri Conservation 2007 Article , or KCwildlands.org

    If your organization would like to become a partner please contact me. We will promote your business or group to over a thousand of KC residents and special perks will be made available for large donations. In the event that the land can not be purchased the money will go to help maintain the current preserve.

    The donations to the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, a fully-established not-for-profit organization who is partnered with the Friends of Maple Woods so that we are able to accept tax-free donations. Contributions made to this cause through MCHF are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law. MCHF is incorporated in the State of Missouri under the Missouri Nonprofit Corporation Act to assist the Missouri Department of Conservation in carrying out its authorized purposes. It holds Federal Tax Exempt Status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

    The Friends of Maple Woods organization is a not-for-profit organization founded solely for funding the purchase of a 7 acre plot adjacent to the current Maple Woods Natural Preserve, to be donated to the Missouri Department of Conservation as an expansion of the park. The group is non-partisan, non-political, and has no intention to take up any causes beyond the expansion of the Maple Woods Natural Preserve. 100% of the money donated will go into the fund, and all performers and helpers are donating their time and will not be paid. Thank you for visiting my page at ANGELFIRE. Please come back and visit again!

    Friends of Maple Woods Nature Preserve (Partners and important links)

    Science explains the benefits of Urban Trees
    See us on Facebook you can win a prize though our featured cause
    Learn about KC recycling!!!
    MOCHF is helping by providing a safe place to keep the money.
    Missouri Conservation Department has agreed to accept the land as part of the park
    Gladstone Parks and Rec will manage the new area
    Boy Scout Troop 179 has helped out
    Ozark Wilderness Waterways Canoe Club is one of our partners Would you like to be a partner?
    Maple Woods Community College would love to see this happen ask them to give more!

    Here is what we are up to ...

    Email: graceyfoundation@lycos.com