Ojibway Prairie Provincial Park is a 64.12 hectare nature reserve within Windsor, at the junction of Titcombe and Matchette roads. Ontario Parks lists the park as established in 1977 and describes it as the largest protected remnant of native prairie in Ontario.
Native prairie, savanna, and open woodland predominate in this small tract. Ontario Parks notes that prairies are thought to have once covered large sections of western and southwestern Ontario.
Ojibway Prairie is one of Ontario's most important long-tail pages for tallgrass prairie, savanna, rare plants, and southern species. More than 500 flowering plants are found in and around the reserve, and about 18 percent are considered rare in Ontario.
The flat sandy to silty plain is wet in spring and very dry by late summer, conditions that Ontario Parks says are ideal for prairie vegetation. The underlying layers of sand, silt, clay, and till were largely laid down about 10,000 years ago during the Wisconsinan Ice Age.
The fauna also has southern and western affinities, with Ontario Parks naming Butler's garter snake, bobwhite, and yellow chat. The City of Windsor operates an adjacent municipal park and visitor centre, with trails, nature education, and heritage appreciation activities in summer.
Plan around prairie and savanna observation, rare plant awareness, trail walking, nature education, heritage appreciation, wildlife viewing, and careful photography.
Confirm access, trail availability, visitor centre details, seasonal programming, sensitive prairie guidance, weather, alerts, and park rules through Ontario Parks.
Non-operating park in Ontario Parks locator.
