Massard Prairie Beauty

Photographs of the flora and fauna of Massard Prairie will be on display in the community room of the Main library from September 4 through October 21.  As one of three naturally occurring prairies located near Fort Smith, Massard Prairie was first described in Thomas Nuttall’s A Journal of Travels into the Arkansas Territory During the Year 1819.  Remnants of the Massard Prairie that once covered more than 10,000 acres in western Arkansas still exist at Ben Geren Golf Course, where a restoration project, headed by Jay Randolph, is underway to bring back the native grasses, wildflowers, and wildlife of the original ecosystem.  Featured photographers for the exhibit include Anastasia Spears, Larry Millican, Tracy Riley, Mike Martin, Patricia Cale, Jerry Owens, and more. You can learn more about the history of Massard Prairie, and the restoration project from Ben Geren Park Administrator Jay Randolph on Tuesday, October 1, at 7 PM at the Main Library. This exhibit is made possible by Bedford Camera and Video in Fort Smith.  Artwork is available for viewing all library hours when meetings are not being held in the Community Room.