By Dave Sedlacek, Restoring Lands Grounds Manager
What goes up, must….
Summer 2026 marks the start of another chapter of Restoring Lands as we begin our demolition phase of our American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant. We will begin removing almost all of the human-made structures at Spirit Lake Nature Preserve, Newark Lore, Stony Creek Preserve and the Biehl Preserve at Lake Twelve.
When we acquire properties, sometimes it isn’t just land that we obtain; buildings, barns, garages and even pit toilets come with!
With these facilities comes maintenance, upkeep and unknown hazards; they require lots of care to keep them in this suspended state. For years, Restoring Lands has put time and resources into keeping these facilities upright, but now it’s time for these structures to be removed.
It can be sad to see these old structures removed; they housed countless memories and stories; people grew up in these homes or summered in these cabins and for years people inhabited these areas. At Restoring Lands, we acknowledge these memories and know that they can never be removed from the people they live within, even if it’s time for the physical building to be removed.
While the fondest memories may not be tied to the outdated pit toilets at Newark Lore, it’s still the end of era. For the land, however, it is the start of its next and hopefully “final” stage, as it returns to its natural state. No more septic system or humming transformer boxes, just natural space. We know that things will look a little different and may be emotional to see, but it’s time for the land to rest.
Sites and structures
Spirit Lake – Home, garage, well, septic and floating pier supplies.
Newark Lore – Unused plumbing systems, well and old camp play equipment.
Stony Creek – Barn, silo, sheds, feeding stations and double enclosure fence.
Biehl Nature Preserve/Lake 12 – Pier (replacement installation fall ’26)
All demolition projects will be completed by the end of August. Closure notices will be shared via social media and our website. All materials will be salvaged, recycled, reused and landfilled appropriately.
Biehl Nature Preserve/Lake 12 pier removal process. Access will be closed thru July 10, 2026.
Stony Creek Preserve barn and fence to be removed.
Newark Lore pit toilets to be removed.
Spirit Lake Nature Preserve cabin and garage to be removed.