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CLEAR Temp: 84 °F Wind: NW at 8 mph Tuesday, June 3, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend May 24, 2003 Medford may get nature center A nonprofit group says it will raise the fundsto set up the facility in the sports park complex By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune For Katy Reed, the idea of a nature center as part of south Medford’s 132-acre sports park complex is exciting. "It would be a wonderful way for people to be exposed to nature," said Reed, Medford resident and owner of Wild Birds Unlimited. "I know that North Mountain Park (a nature center in Ashland) is going great guns. I think Medford should have something like that." During Thursday’s City Council study session, Susan Cross presented a proposal for a $115,000 nature center within the city’s new sports park. Advertisement Cross is the director of a newly formed nonprofit organization, Jefferson Nature Center, which would fund the entire project through grants and contributions, at no cost to the city, she said. The nonprofit would like to use an existing vacant farmhouse on the property as their center, and a few acres around it for gardens and wildlife habitat. The organization would offer an interpretive center and natural history education about the region to residents, tourists and students. Through things like community projects, the center would help restore the area around Bear Creek, which runs through the park. Medford’s sports park complex will be situated on 132 acres that was the former Heitkamp farm, which the city purchased through revenue bonds in 2002. It’s on Highway 99 across from Bear Creek Corp. and behind the former Starlite Theatre property. The city will pay for the new park, partly through a hotel/motel tax increase that passed two years ago. Parks and Recreation Director Scott Archer said it’s too soon to say if the center would displace any park amenities. "We are in the process of completing the (park) master plan," he said. "So nothing has been decided about any of it." About 70 acres is riparian zoned, most of which cannot be developed, he said. The city is in the process of putting out requests for design proposals, he said, so that it would have a consultant to work with the staff on development. Softball, football and soccer fields are among the things being considered for the complex. Cross said the nature center doesn’t require development. "We could start doing programming as soon as the city says it’s OK," she said. She said the nature center could be a place where, for example, an elementary school class comes to learn about everything from plant species to salmon life cycles through field studies, demonstrations, exhibits and instruction. She said students also might do a service learning component during the visit, such as removing invasive plants or helping to maintain a trail. She said providing access to and education about nature increases the quality of life in a community. Archer said that meetings and public forums for the park master plan will begin this summer, and he hopes to have the plan completed this fall so park development can begin in the next couple years. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times