By Summer Crawford
BubbleLife Intern
The arrival of Earth Day, April 22, will not only bring the familiar sense of awareness about the environment to the people of Coppell, but it will also signify the grand opening of the Biodiversity Education Center. The months of preparation and hard work at the Coppell Nature Park will finally be displayed for the whole community.
With its exciting revealment date announced, the Biodiversity Education Center has already hosted events and programs. The success of the center could not have been achieved without its main partner, Friends of Coppell Nature Park, and its president, Betsy Wilcox. Friends of Coppell Nature Park was crucial to raising funds for the center and collecting donations. Other partners include Coppell’s Parks and Recreation department, Keep Coppell Beautiful, Coppell ISD and North Lake College, all of whom donated to the project.
The vast expanse of 66 acres at Wagon Wheel Park offered an opening for this center to be built. The looming 5,800-square foot eco friendly building hits two birds with one stone. Its energy system will be fueled by 96 solar panels and the water system by a cistern. This building did not come without a price tag however. The Coppell City Council allotted $900,000 for construction, completing the final cost of $2.1 million.
Although the cost is extensive, it will prove to be worth the while. Its mission is to educate residents of all ages about key factors of life such as nature, conservation and sustainability. The center’s partners have gotten a head start and have started to host programs and teaching classes, such as in how to tests water. With a maximum of 150 occupants, the center is looking to stakeholders. One thing for sure is that the center will not be rented.
It is clear that the Biodiversity Education Center offers a plethora of benefits to not only interested nature-lovers, but also to students in the Coppell Independent School District. This center gives students a way to expand their studies into a more hands-on activity. Even teachers have come to use the center as a learning tool, equipped with their own kit-based programs. From insects to the types of trees, the abundance of learning opportunities is at full speed and will not slow down anytime soon.
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http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/irving/headlines/20140314-coppell-biodiversity-education-center-officially-opens-in-april.ece