Courtesy/PEEC
COUNTY News:
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is collaborating with Los Alamos County to build a nature center on Canyon Road, scheduled to be finished by Earth Day 2015.
The contractor, Klinger Construction, took possession of the construction site for the Nature Center Friday. Starting next week, residents or motorists in the area may see them mobilizing their equipment, setting up their work site trailer, taking down or setting up fences and other project set up activities.
Klinger Construction will not be performing any earth work until the 15-day period after Planning & Zoning approval has taken effect. However, they may be removing trees next week in order to accommodate the new parking lot.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Nature Center is set for 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22 at the site, 2600 Canyon Road, behind the Aquatic Center.
The Building Is Just the Beginning
A signature building needs interior exhibits worthy of the exterior. In our public-private partnership, the County will build the nature center, and PEEC will provide the exhibits.
What Kind of Exhibits?
The new building will provide space for innovative and attractive exhibits, including:
- Information and hands-on demonstrations about our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies.
- Wildlife viewing room with quiet space and library.
- Live animals.
- Children’s discovery area.
- Planetarium/lecture room for talks, films, events, and more.
- Outdoor gathering space with Jemez Mountains views and interpretation.
- Changing exhibit space, including a community gallery.
- Dedicated classroom for schoolchildren and public programs.
- Engaging, interactive exhibits that get people of all ages excited about getting outside.
- Kids’ vegetable garden.
- Butterfly garden.
- Xeric garden.
- Nature play area (e.g., fort building, mud kitchen).
- Nature Trail and connections to County trails.
