Twenty-five acres of natural areas in Marquette have been protected courtesy of the Harbour View Development Corp. and the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy. The new Harlow Farms nature preserve includes many terrestrial and aquatic habitat types. (Photo courtesy of the SWP)

MARQUETTE — The permanent protection of 25 acres of diverse, yet contiguous natural areas within the city of Marquette has been announced by the Harbour View Development Corp. and the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy.

The property includes a combination of forest types, open meadow, wetlands, brook and several historic sites. The new Harlow Farms nature preserve also offers a wide variety of important terrestrial and aquatic habitat types.

In addition, the property includes a section of the Noquemenon Trail Network, which connects with the Iron Ore Heritage Trail and other trails.

“Given the outstanding job the Superior Watershed Partnership has been providing the Upper Peninsula for 20 years now, we felt they were the best organization to entrust the care and protection of these conservation lands for perpetuity,” said L.R. Swadley, president of Harbour View Development, in a news release. “Both the management and the residents of Harlow Farms are confident in the team and mission at SWP.

“We believe they can continue the vision we’ve had for this land and also bring its care and protection to a new level. Public access will remain the same.”

The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy is a nationally-recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and a regional leader in Great Lakes protection and restoration, officials said in a press release.

SWP staff have skills including watershed planning, climate adaptation, environmental restoration, pollution prevention, field inventory, water quality monitoring and more.

The SWP’s Great Lakes Conservation Corps implements a wide variety of habitat restoration and public access projects including dune restoration, wetland restoration, forestry and trail building.

“The SWP Land Conservancy is proud to take ownership of the Harlow Farms natural area. Protecting urban green spaces such as this is increasingly important in protecting local water quality and Lake Superior,” said Carl Lindquist, SWP director, in a news release.

There will be a public celebration event at Harlow Farms in the spring sponsored by Harbour View Development Corp. and the SWP. Further details will be announced later this winter.