A small oasis in an increasingly urban landscape, the 53-acre Kate Palmer Sanctuary is located amid a patchwork of suburbs. The sanctuary is known as one of the richest woodlands in Jackson for spring wildflowers.

In the spring (usually late April to early May), the woodland is carpeted with masses of Trout Lilies and Trilliums. Goldenseal, Golden Alexander, and Maidenhair Ferns come later as well as over 50 identified plant species. Marked trails circle through the lowland woods near the Sandstone creek. The sanctuary has the perfect size trails for snowshoeing in the winter season. The Kate Palmer Sanctuary is one of the last places in Michigan to find Shingle Oak trees with their unusual elliptical leaves. Over 100 species of birds have been identified in the sanctuary, including Pileated Woodpeckers, Wood Ducks, and over 20 warblers – making Kate Palmer Sanctuary an ideal park for bird watchers!