COLUMBUS, OH -- The visitor and research center at Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve in Erie County has closed for remodeling and expansion, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The preserve's trails and observation decks will remain open during most of the construction period that is scheduled to run through May 2002.
This six-month project will add 1,993 square feet to the preserve's existing visitor and research center, creating expanded exhibit areas and more parking for the nearly 40,000 people who now visit Old Woman Creek annually. It will also improve laboratory and office space for the staff. The facility is classified as a National Estuarine Research Reserve.
The remodeling project will utilize a variety of green materials" - including low-voltage, high efficiency lighting; recycled materials; and environmentally friendly construction technology. The state's NatureWorks program and the federal National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are jointly funding the project at Old Woman Creek.
Access to the main parking lot will be limited during the construction period and two handicapped parking spaces will be relocated. It is possible that the entire preserve will be closed on occasion for brief periods during the heaviest construction. Such closures, which ODNR plans to keep at a minimum, will be announced in advance if possible.
Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, located east of Huron on the Lake Erie shore, is managed by ODNR's Division of Natural Areas & Preserves. Its 571 acres contain a variety of natural habitats and are home to dozens of rare and endangered plant and animal species. For more information, contact the preserve at 419-433-4601.
For Further Information Contact:
Heidi Hetzel-Evans, Natural Areas & Preserves
(614) 265-6520
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860