Pioneers Park addition features 'green' technology and more

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BY ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star

Nancy Furman is proud of the newest addition to the Pioneers Park Nature Center: a 3,340-square- foot building that showcases the prairie and its diverse ecosystem   and “green” technology.

Carpet squares made from recycled plastic bottles can be easily replaced if they get stained or damaged.

Visitors can see through an opening  — a “truth window” — in a front wall built of straw bales.

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Ted Haubrich, teacher and naturalist at the new Prairie Building visitor services wing of the Nature Center at Pioneers Park, holds Jake, a six-foot bull snake, for Sarah DeCoster, 6, and sister Caitlin,3, to pet. (William Lauer)

If you go

What: Dedication of addition to Pioneers Park Nature Center.

When: 4 p.m. today, open to public.

To reach the Nature Center: From Ninth and Van Dorn streets, take Van Dorn west about two miles to the entrance of Pioneers Park. Follow signs to the west end of the park.

Cabinet doors feature wheat straw and have no handles or knobs, to reduce the use of metals.

Countertops contain pressed paper and a resin material made from renewable and recycled resources.

And a 3,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system and roof with nearly 1,000 drought-tolerant prairie plants help the building be more energy-efficient.

People can visit the building free of charge to learn about the plants and animals that inhabit the prairie, and they can also see “green” building technology being used to help save energy and natural resources.

“We want to walk our talk,” nature center coordinator Furman said on a recent tour. “We’re a nature center. We believe in conserving products and the environment.  We want to teach families and builders about what they can use in their own homes.”

 But what Furman is really grateful for is all of the new storage space,  including a big basement. The extra room is needed for collections, exhibits and classroom and display materials.

 “It makes it easier to function,” she said.

Furman and naturalist Becky Seth say the $750,000 addition is a far cry from their old cabin-like offices in the Chet Ager Building — built across the road in 1963.

Back then, the nature center in Pioneers Park on the southwest edge of Lincoln was just 43 acres. Land acquisitions over the years helped the nature center grow to 668 acres. An auditorium was added about 10 years ago.

The “green” building addition is part of a master plan that has been in the works since 1984.

The addition, officially known as the Visitor Services wing, will be dedicated at 4 p.m. today. It features an entry/exhibit hall, library, offices, gift shop and handicapped accessible restroom facilities.

Mayor Chris Beutler, who — before he became mayor — wrote the proposal that got a $398,000 grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust in 2006, will be at the dedication, along with other local and state officials. Instead of a ribbon-cutting ceremony, special guests will throw prairie grass seeds.

The building was made possible by the Nebraska Environmental Trust, Friends of Pioneers Park Nature Center, Lincoln Parks Foundation, Lincoln Cares Program, Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, Lincoln Electric System and Lincoln Public Schools. The architect was Deb Hansen of The Architectural Partnership; contractor was Rogge Construction.

Among the highlights are two prairie murals by local artist Mark Marcuson and nature photographs by Michael Forsberg.

An open house and dedication of new art panels at the entrance to the nature center will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 11.

The panels, each about 7 feet tall, will be made of rust-colored steel and will depict prairie, wetlands, woodland and bison themes.

“It’s kind of our welcome sign,” Furman said.

The initial conception was designed by Janice Wishnow, a Nature Center staff member, with fabrication by Jake Balcom of Mettle Design. The project was made possible by the Lincoln Cares Program, Friends of Pioneers Park and Winnett Funds.

About 80,000 visitors come to the nature center annually to learn more about the prairie, wetland and woodland ecosystems. They get to see plenty of wildlife, too, including  small numbers of elk, deer and bison.

Now they will get a chance to  learn how to be green.

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.