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 755-0676.

2008 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.

The Fungus Among Us
April 13, 2008 4 p.m.
It's mushroom mania as we scour the woods in search of different fungi...some helpful, some harmful, and learn how to id these special organisms. Fee: $2 per person. Space is limited so reservations are required.

Blindfolds, Yes - Binoculars, No!
May 10, 2008 3 p.m.
Have you ever done any bird watching...while wearing a blindfold? Come take the challenge as we learn to identify different bird species through their unique songs. Fee: $2 per person. Space is limited so reservations are required.

"Come Meet Julius Squeezer"
Saturday, June 14, 2008, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Take and up-close look at things that slither, slink and slide. Reptile wranglers from across the state will be on hand to introduce you to their favorite creepy-crawly friends. There'll be snakes, salamanders, turtles, alligators and more! It's a squirming good time for the entire family. FREE.

"Cooking with the Sun"
Sunday, June 29, 2008 2:30 p.m.
Tired of being cooped up in the kitchen? Try cooking nature's way using the earths's most plentiful energy source - the sun!! Find out how you can bake, saute, and even heat-up leftovers using a solar cooker. These little sun ovens can even be made with materials from around the house. Recipes and energy-saving tips included. Great for the entire family. Reservations are required. Call 755-0676 to sign up. FREE.

"Ma Nature's Fireworks"
Saturday, July 5, 2007 9:00 p.m. (when it's nice and dark!)
What's the 4th of July weekend without a few fireworks. Join the naturalist's of Martin Park Nature Center as we venture out on an after-dark exploration of nature's own fireworks - lightning bugs! We'll scoop up these glow-in-the-dark flyers in collection jars and see who can come up with the most, then release them back into the wild to light up our night skies. Great family outing for all. Cost: $2 per person. Space is limited so reservations are required.

"Aqua Commandos"
Saturday, August 9 Time 10 a.m., 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.
Step out of the summer heat and into the water as we explore the aquatic world of Martin Park Nature Center. We'll wade our way through the shallow portions of the Martin Park creek, examining the aquatic creatures within. While there, we might even help pick up some of the litter collected around our creek banks...our own conservation exploration! Space is limited, so reservations are required by calling 755-0676.

SPECIAL GUIDED TOURS

A fee of $2 per person ($10 per group minimum) is required for special-guided tours. Additional fees may be charged if materials are necessary for the tour. A variety of topics for the tours are available or you may suggest one. Current classroom lessons, requirements for scouting badges or "What's in the park today?" describe the three most requested topics.

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 each summer 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.

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 755-0676.

Neil Garrison, Naturalist
Casey Wieczorek, Assistant Naturalist