Originally purchased by the municipality in 1992, the natural area of the park consists of grasslands, shrublands, wetlands, and mixed forest.

[3] The first European-American who settled the property and constructed the original farmstead was Rufus Crossman, circa 1800.

Over the next century the majority of the land had been cleared for agriculture where a smaller natural forest stand remained, most likely cultivated as a sugar bush for maple syrup.

Aerial photos taken in 1937 indicated four structures, including a large barn existed on the northwest corner of the property.

The referendum called for the City Council to commit the Wheeler Nature Park into a third-party conservation easement.