Named a regional "Ten Best" Parks and Playgrounds in National Geographic's "The Best of Everything for Families: An Ultimate Guide for Families."

Martin Park Nature Center at 5000 West Memorial Road serves as an educational facility, a recreational area and a wildlife sanctuary.

Many animals make their homes in and around the various native plants in Martin Park. Birds, butterflies, squirrels, and deer are just a few of the animals in the park.

Martin Park is open 51 weeks a year, Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The park is closed on holidays and the week between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.

Fortunate visitors may catch a glimpse of a deer, coyote, owl or armadillo. Your powers of observation, the season of the year and luck contribute to observing these uncaged animals.

Martin Park Nature Center houses a hands-on museum, a browsing library and a gift shop.

Outside the nature center, 3.5 miles of hiking trails curl through woods and grasslands. One graveled trail is wheelchair accessible. Other trails are of gravel and packed soil, containing short stretches of moderate slopes and occasional steps.

Sunday in the Park
Join us for our Sunday Nature Hikes and learn about the nature of the season. 

The Nature Center offers guided park tours and nature hikes every Sunday at 2:30 p.m.  Reservations required. 

Fee:  $2.  For registration, call 405 755-0676.

2009 SPECIAL EVENTS:
Ready for adventure? Discover your "wild" side with one of these special education events. Unless otherwise noted, all events cost $2 per person and reservations are requested.

Rainy Day Origami
Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
$2.00/person – reservations required

April showers bring…beautiful origami flowers, swans, and more! Fold your way out of the rainy day blues with this workshop focusing on the amazing art of Japanese paper folding. Martin Park show you how to fold fabulous nature-inspired works of paper art…from flowers to frogs, spiders, butterflies, and more! Supplies and instruction provided.    

EARTH FEST
Saturday, April 25   10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Join the City of Oklahoma City as we celebrate Earth Week with this all-day family festival.  Earth-friendly education booths and free seminars are just part of the fun.  Kids can learn how to cook with the sun, make recycled art, meet "Cycler," the recycling robot and Mother Earth, while mom and dad can learn about the City's recycling program, at-home water conservation, best fertilizer techniques and composting! The entire family will also enjoy our alt-fuel car show featuring natural gas and electric vehicles from the City's fleet.  So, come out and help celebrate greeningokc!  FREE to the public. 

SEMINARS:
10:30 a.m.   Save the Earth With Little Blue
11:30 a.m.   Cooking with the Sun
1:00 p.m.     Earth Friendly Lawn Care
2:00 p.m.     Recycling Rainwater
3:00 p.m.     Composting 101 

"Ma Nature’s Day”
Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 2:30 p.m.
$2.00 per person – reservations required

Celebrate mom – and Mother Nature – with this special mom-inspired craft class. Moms and family members can share their nature experiences while working on a wildflower craft project. Best of all, mom will get to take home her special nature-inspired gift.

JOIN THE GREEN EARTH GANG!

The Green Earth Gang is a nature appreciation program geared toward 9 to 13-year-olds. The "Gang" works on conservation projects in Martin Park throughout the year under the supervision of a park naturalist.  Projects include litter pick-ups, maintaining trails, restoring native plants and monitoring and repairing nest boxes.  It's a great way to teach kids about the role conservation plays in our environment.   There are no fees to participate, and old clothing is recommended.  The "Gang" meets 2 - 5 p.m. each Saturday during the school year, and each Friday from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. during the summer months.

Martin Park Nature Center is in far northwest Oklahoma City at 5000 West Memorial Road, on the south side of Memorial between N MacArthur Boulevard and N Meridian Avenue. We're just west of Mercy Hospital.

Since Martin Park is a protected wildlife sanctuary, pets, fishing, hunting, bicycles, swimming, camp fires and other activities that might be destructive to the habitat are not allowed.

For more information, call 405 755-0676.

Get up-to-date information on Parks and Recreation programs and activities!  Click HERE to sign up for regular Parks and Recreation e-mails.

Neil Garrison, Naturalist
Casey Wieczorek, Assistant Naturalist