General
Midwestern State University received a generous donation on Friday from Charles Finne
The Finnells donated close to 25 acres of land located in Holliday, Texas adjacent to Finnell Park. The MSU Board of Regents approved naming the land the Leslie and Charles Finnell Native Prairie Site of Midwestern State University.
The land will undergo a major restoration to native prairie habitat. This restoration will be completed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and supervised by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologist, and MSU. The restoration will include the removal of the mesquite and the planting of grasses that were native to the area in the late 1800s. After the habitat has been restored, the agreement among these three Texas agencies is that the land will be maintained as native prairie habitat for a minimum of 20 years by MSU. The land will be primarily used as a field laboratory for the Environmental Science and Biology programs at MSU. The land will be especially useful in teaching laboratories in courses like ecology, entomology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, field zoology, araneology, environmental science, and other field laboratory oriented courses. This land being restored to the native habitat is a great opportunity for students to obtain field experience under natural conditions. Very little native habitat remains in north-central Texas. Once restored, students will be able to experience the environment as it was more than 100 years ago. Few universities have a natural laboratory within a short driving distance from campus. "We are delighted that the Finnell brothers have made such a generous gift to Midwestern State University, and we are especially pleased that TxDOT and TPWD have agreed to assist MSU with this project," stated Dr. Norman Horner, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.
The land will undergo a major restoration to native prairie habitat. This restoration will be completed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and supervised by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologist, and MSU. The restoration will include the removal of the mesquite and the planting of grasses that were native to the area in the late 1800s. After the habitat has been restored, the agreement among these three Texas agencies is that the land will be maintained as native prairie habitat for a minimum of 20 years by MSU. The land will be primarily used as a field laboratory for the Environmental Science and Biology programs at MSU. The land will be especially useful in teaching laboratories in courses like ecology, entomology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, field zoology, araneology, environmental science, and other field laboratory oriented courses. This land being restored to the native habitat is a great opportunity for students to obtain field experience under natural conditions. Very little native habitat remains in north-central Texas. Once restored, students will be able to experience the environment as it was more than 100 years ago. Few universities have a natural laboratory within a short driving distance from campus. "We are delighted that the Finnell brothers have made such a generous gift to Midwestern State University, and we are especially pleased that TxDOT and TPWD have agreed to assist MSU with this project," stated Dr. Norman Horner, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.