By Brandt Mannchen

I visited Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve (KMP), 20215 Chasewood Park Dr., 77070, and was pleasantly surprised by what I found. KMP is surrounded by Cypresswood Drive, Highway 249, Chasewood Park Drive, and Cypress Creek.  It’s what I call a “water park” because it has both a lake and a stream.  KMP is 80 acres, has 2.24 miles of asphalt/concrete trails (hiking/biking), and is open 7 am to dusk.  Most of the people that I saw were walking or jogging and a few were riding bicycles. I also saw one person fishing. 

There is plenty of parking on the north side, with a small parking area on the south side.  If you park on the south side, there is a bridge that crosses Cypress Creek to get you into the park.  In addition, outside the park, on the south side of Cypress Creek, there is another trail that you can walk which goes east and west.  There are several small piers/docks on the lake and there is canoe access and fishing allowed.  There also is a restroom and a picnic area.

While there I observed Red-eared Sliders, Mockingbirds, Bluejays, Great Egrets, Green Herons, butterflies, and a hawk flying overhead.  Cypress Creek has sandy banks and bottoms and there is a wastewater treatment plant with two outfalls on the southwest side of the Park.  Some of Cypress Creek is lined with riprap (large pieces of concrete) so that its shoreline is protected to reduce erosion of the banks.

There are many native plants that surround the lake and line Cypress Creek.  Some of these plants include Boxelder, American Elm, Eastern Cottonwood, Sweetgum, Sugarberry, Water Oak, Loblolly Pine, American Sycamore, Yaupon Holly, Cherry Laurel, Virginia Creeper, River Birch, American Elderberry, Peppervine, Trumpet Vine, Giant Ragweed, Green Ash, Black Willow, Common Morning Glory, Dwarf Palmetto, Common Persimmon, Hempweed, Buttonbush, Carolina Moonseed, Winged Elm, Inland Sea Oats, Post Oak, Frog Fruit, Water Primrose, smartweed species, grape species, greenbrier species, Rattle-box, Baccharis, Common Sunflower, Axocatzin, American Beautyberry, Amerique Bean, Winged Sumac, and Mistletoe.

Additional trees have been planted including Overcup Oak, Eastern Red Cedar, Loblolly Pine, Pecan, Red Maple, and Bur Oak. 

Kickerillo-Mischer Park is a great place to relax, walk comfortably, and enjoy the view of the lake and stream.  In other words, it’s a must for a weary soul who wants and needs a green rest.