New Audubon Center Opens in Columbus, OH

Columbus, OH, August 27, 2009 – A former industrial site on the Whittier Peninsula near downtown Columbus is about to be officially reborn as an urban oasis where wildlife can thrive and visitors can connect with nature and the power to protect it.   At the heart of this transformation is the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, the latest addition to Audubon’s national network of 50 nature centers.

The new community resource, on the banks of the Scioto River, is the culmination of a unique partnership between the City of Columbus Recreation & Parks Department, Metro Parks and Audubon Ohio.  Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Franklin County Commission President Paula Brooks, Audubon Board Chair Holt Thrasher, and other officials and invited guests will cut the ribbon to dedicate the new Grange Insurance Audubon Center and Scioto Audubon Metro Park at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 28 at 505 West Whittier Street.

“What was once an area to avoid is now a destination where the seeds of stewardship will grow in a community that reflects America’s diversity and promise,” said National Audubon Society President John Flicker, who attended the Center’s ground-breaking ceremony on Earth Day 2008.

In keeping with Audubon’s conservation philosophy, the 18,000 square foot Grange Insurance Audubon Center is a “green building,” certified under national Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria. It uses using geothermal heating and cooling, a plant-filled green roof, recycled materials and other sustainable construction materials to reduce the center’s carbon footprint and help visitors understand how to make homes businesses and schools more environmentally friendly.

Year-round environmental education programs, workshops and presentations will introduce individuals, families and schools to the birds and other wildlife of the Whittier peninsula. Identified by Audubon as an Important Bird Area (IBA), the peninsula and Scioto River provide a stopover point for thousands of birds migrating from Central and South America. In addition to abundant bird life, including Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and several warbler species, visitors wandering the 80-acre grounds are likely to see wetlands, ponds, butterflies and dragonflies. The Center’s theme, “Exploring the Nature of Change,” is boldly conveyed through vibrant exhibits that reflect the seasons.

“The completion of the Grange Insurance Audubon Center is a major milestone for Columbus,” said Heather Starck, Center Director. “Nature centers have a rich history of forging bonds and creating enduring impacts on the people they reach, particularly the school children who will be visiting the center.”

Opening weekend activities at the Center will include bird and dragon fly walks, butterfly gardening classes, and activities for children, such as including puppet shows, face painting, and story hours. In addition, Metro Park offers adventurous visitors the challenge of a 35-foot-climbing wall (including two 7-8 foot boulders), and a rope climbing area.

Leading the corporate charge is Grange Insurance, based in Columbus, whose $4 million lead gift garnered the company naming rights for the center. American Electric Power Company, Franklin County, Limited Brands, and the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio also provided key contributions that, in turn, encouraged other corporations, foundations, and individuals to support the $14.5 million project through gifts to prepare the site, fund the construction of the center, and provide initial operating funds.

Metro Parks has provided about $10 million for development of the 72-acre Scioto Audubon Metro Park, much of it supporting environmental remediation projects. Other improvements include extending biking and walking trails, a boat launch and fishing docks, wetlands construction and observation decks and pathways.

“Parks distinguish every great city,” said John O’Meara, Metro Parks Executive Director. “This new park and nature center are a treasure for our community and are a vital component in making Columbus a great place to live, work or visit.”

Scioto Audubon Metro Park is free and open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. through September and 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in October. Grange Insurance Audubon Center is open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Grange Insurance Audubon Center is the first urban facility of its kind in Ohio. Audubon has urban centers in Brooklyn, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA; and Dallas TX, as part of their nationwide network to connect people with nature and bring conservation stewardship to some of America’s most diverse communities. “Making nature a part of local life is the best way to guarantee that future generations protect the health of our communities and our environment,” adds Starck.

Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. The mission of Audubon Ohio is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats in Ohio by promoting conservation and biodiversity through education and advocacy.   More at http://grange.audubon.org/