HARVARD – Growing up, Barbara and Beverly Behm had their own little slice of wilderness in their backyard – a stream, a garden, a wooded home for wildlife. Now, the two are arranging to open their personal park to the public.

Barbara and Beverly are writing a provision into their trust and will to – upon their deaths – donate the property at 700 N. Howard St. to Harvard, as well as money needed to turn it into a city park.

“We’re both conservationists and understand the loss of habitat and how that affects nature and the community,” Barbara Behm said. “So we thought it would be a shame if the land went to a development and crowded out the animals and the recreation aspects.”