Walnut Creek Wetland Park a place for learning, play

There's a cranny in south Raleigh where Walnut Creek flows. It's a place where floodwaters sometimes rise and the ground likes to be muddy. Walnut Creek Wetland Park is a playground and a place of learning.

“I think it's important for toddlers to see the world and get to understand it,” said Antwannette Kozlow, who brought her son Wilhelm to the park to discover the wonders of nature. “Bugs are part of life, part of nature and in order for us to do a better job of conserving our environment, we need to understand bugs and every different level of our Eco System.”

Walnut Creek Wetland Park is located about a mile from downtown Raleigh. It's a wetland, charged with educating people, and a place where the smallest insects can have a big impact.

“He's always been interested in bugs and critters and the like,” Jen McClelland said of her son, Chase. “He loves to be out in nature, so that's a big part of why we are here.”

McClelland home-schools Chase. A visit to the park is both a field trip and a recess.

“To me, I think as much play as they can get, in any weather, it's just very important for their growth,” she said.

Walnut Creek Wetland Park has 58 acres to explore, each step on the trails offers something different.

“They learn so much from being out,” McCelland said.

Kozlow said from the muddy soil, a better world grows.

“To me it's important to have facilities like this, toddlers and adults need to explore the world we live in," she said.

The Walnut Creek Wetland Park is located on Peterson Street in Raleigh, but is also accessible by the Walnut Creek and Little Rock Greenways.