Urban oasis

Mississippi Magazine, Nov-Dec, 2009 by Ann Shivers McNair

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Greenville residents looking to avoid gaining holiday pounds or catch a moment of quiet during the hustle and bustle of the season can find respite on the scenic trails of the Greenville Cypress Preserve. Open year-round, the Cypress Preserve is a project of the Greenville Garden Club, who purchased the land in 1940 and developed the Preserve in 2000.

The 16-acre virgin forest is one of the few "urban forests" in Mississippi, according to Jacquie Turner, chairman of the Preserve's board and lifelong member of the Garden Club.

Funds raised by the Garden Club have supported the development of a pavilion, three connecting trails, and informative signage. Turner says that future plans include an outdoor classroom developed in coordination with Greenville's public schools.

"We have a unique opportunity to preserve both nature and history," Turner explains.

For more information about the Greenville Cypress Preserve, located off Highway 82, call 662.332.5365.