Grand Island’s Nike Base was built during the Cold War as a missile defense site. At the base were Nike defense missiles. This was part of a network to protect major cities from Soviet attack during the Cold War. Since that time, the Nike Base.
Here is some more information from AI: “The first Nike Ajax missiles were deployed in 1953, with the system eventually encompassing over 265 missile bases across the US. These bases were strategically placed around major cities and military installations. The system was later upgraded to the more powerful Nike Hercules missiles.”
These sites were decommissioned in the 1970s.
In 1972, the federal government gave part of the base to the Town of Grand Island and part of the base to the Grand Island Central School District. The part that is owned by the town now hosts the Golden Age Center, the town’s recreation department, a community center, and other recreational facilities. Over the years, six trails were built on the site. They did not connect to each other. In recent years, the trails were connected and a pedestrian bridge was added. The trails connect the Western New York Land Conservancy’s Margery Gallogly trail behind Assumption Cemetery with the Niagara River. There is about three miles of trails altogether (excluding the Margery Gallogly trail).
The part of the base that is owned by the school district, called Eco Island, consists of a building and trails, with the goal of educating children about our environment.
Last month, I joined a group that was organized by the Grand Island Nature Alliance, and we hiked the trails at the Nike Base. We looked at plants, such as the wood anemone. There are two types of wood anemone. One is the American wood anemone, which is a native species, and the other is a European plant, which is naturalized in North America. Even though it’s not native, it’s also not invasive, and that’s a good thing. I’m not sure which of the two this one is. This plant is closely related to the buttercup and it’s a spring plant.
The plants behind that blue bird house are phragmites, and they are an invasive species that tend to take over where ever they go. So, this is not a sight that you want to see in your park. This is a plant that should be eradicated, but the extensive root system of these plants makes eradication difficult.
Here is the bridge over Six Mile Creek.
Here is another view of the bridge. The water level of the creek was rather low that day, but it’s a different story after a good rainfall.
Here is a view of one of the many wetlands at the Nike Base trails.
During the winter, the Nike Base trails are used for winter sports, including snowmobiling and cross country skiing.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed your tour of the Nike Base trails!!
I did, indeed, enjoy the tour, as well as reading about it. I love that they added trails and connected them. I’m not much of a hiker, but I like the idea of connecting with nature.