The site is open 7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. to dusk. The Visitors Center and exhibit area are open Wednesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m; there you can read about the Fernald Preserve’s previous Cold War mission. To find the cache, start from the Visitor Center and head north on the Hickory Trail.
<Per the ubiquitous Wikipedia> “In 1990, Congress approved closure of the site and approved environmental cleanup of the facility... The project was completed in October 2006, 12 years ahead of schedule and 7.8 billion dollars below the original cost estimate. The $4.4 billion cleanup of the surface areas was completed in December 2006, and the site was turned into the Fernald Preserve. Thousands of tons of contaminated concrete, sludge, liquid waste, and soil were removed from the site and replaced with man-made wetlands and greenery.”
<Thanks to Big Mama K for the following narrative material> The 1,050-acre Fernald Preserve provides a unique opportunity to see how efficiently and effectively nature responds to a large-scale ecological restoration effort. The site has diverse wildlife, including muskrats, beaver, and birds, that can often be seen in the wetlands and open water. The woodlands, prairies, and savannas are home to a variety of mammals and reptiles, as well as native and migratory birds.
This cache is another in a series which celebrates individuals in the CO's lifetime who have distinguished themselves from the rest by their demonstrated ability to help solve problems that collectively afflict us as we pass through life. The cache specifically honors Chuck Finley, with whom the CO had the pleasure to work a number of years on the Fernald Closure Project. Chuck stood apart from others by possessing a particularly keen intellect and being firmly grounded in reality; he was low key and unassuming, and had a subtle sense of humor. These traits, combined with a dedication to get the job done right, led him to continually question things and to quickly identify any emergent problems, no matter how slight the indications or unpopular the implications. Upon perceiving something was headed astray, he would exhibit a terse grin and in cogent terms would point out the root of the problem. In many cases his perception exceeded that of his coworkers (including even... yup!!.. you guessed it... the CO hisself!!!??), and hence his concerns were not immediately comprehended; in such instances, though, he would stand his ground and patiently explain his concerns until they were understood. Most importantly, just as he could identify problems, he assisted in developing suitable, efficient solutions. THANKS Chuckie!!!!