Volunteers at Hawkins Preserve have released the property’s 2024 report, detailing the flora, peacefulness and natural beauty that awaits all who visit. The report also gave insight into some improvements that took place this year.
Hawkins Preserve, located at 1490 S. Cedar St. in Cortez, is a 122-acre property that was gifted to the Cortez Cultural Center by Jack Hawkins in the 1970s or 1980s.
To protect the property, the cultural center put the land under a conservation easement with the Montezuma Land Conservancy to keep it from becoming developed.
It is now a place that provides “great views, a feeling of remoteness and a place to breathe,” according to the report, as well as a plethora of flora and fauna to enjoy.
There is a paved hiking path across the north edge of the preserve, allowing people of all abilities, even those in wheelchairs, to visit and appreciate the beauty. There are also picnic shelters with concrete tables and artwork scattered throughout.
The preserve can also be utilized for bouldering enthusiasts.
“We have wonderful cliffs down toward the little stream at the bottom of the preserve, and we designed a policy for that (bouldering),” volunteer Shelby Smith told The Journal.
As a thank you, the Mesa Verde employee who asked about promoting bouldering in the preserve found the funding to build the informational kiosk in the parking lot.
This year, the kiosk has been sanded, painted and restored. The kiosk had been marked by graffiti and had received some natural wear and tear from the sun.
Volunteers also helped clean a large Anasazi bowl replica and provided maintenance on the picnic tables.
Despite the beauty and peacefulness, Smith recommended that people not go alone for safety.
“You have to be cautious when you go to areas where nobody else is around,” Smith said. “I just urge people to be careful when going down. I think two or three is better than one.”
Smith and his wife Roberta became involved at the preserve when they retired from teaching. Smith was an English teacher in Cortez for about 20 years, and Roberta was a French teacher.
It was during a watercolor class at the Cortez Cultural Center following retirement that Smith was asked to consider being on the cultural center board.
“I was on the board for quite a few years,” Smith said. “Got to be the president for a few years.”
He has now been involved for nearly a decade. A committee called Friends of Hawkins was also started to help take care of the preserve.
Those who wish to learn more about the preserve and what it offers can visit montezumaland.org.
