By: Channel 9 Eyewitness News
news@kacautv.com
The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center and Woodbury County Conservation Board recently received a grant in the amount of $5,000 from the Siouxland Community Foundation through the Fund for Siouxland Grant Program.
The Nature Center will use the grant to fund the Outdoor Nature Playscape at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. The construction on the Playscape will begin in the next few months and the estimated cost is more than $80,000.
"We have been raising funds for new Nature Playscape over the past several months. This gift will launch us closer our goal for the project," stated Dawn Snyder, Education Program Director. "We are thrilled to receive this grant and thank the Siouxland Community Foundation for their continued dedication to bettering our community."
The Nature Playscape is an outdoor play area with natural structures for playing, climbing and building; and activities to develop children's observation skills and imagination. The plan includes logs to crawl under, over and through; balance beams; spider web ropes; a fox den; a digging area; natural building blocks area; art table; slate art panel; musical instruments; a small performing "stage"; benches; and a multi-level tree house with ladders, lookout platforms and a net climber. The area is located approximately ¼ mile from the Nature Center along the Whitetail Deer Trail.
There will also be a water feature that is handicap accessible and includes small waterfall drops; boulders; mini wetland; zero entry access spots; benches; stepping stones; small pond and stream. The water feature will be a haven for birds and aquatic insects and will provide beauty as well as enhance program opportunities. Plans for the Playscape and Water Feature are on display at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.
The Junior League of Sioux City has played an important part of this project and currently is sponsoring the Playscape as their major Project Focus. In addition to the $15,000 pledge from the Junior League of Sioux City, the Nature Center has received more than $31,000 in private donations from individuals and groups.
For more information regarding the Nature Playscape contact the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center at 712-258-0838. The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is located at 4500 Sioux River Road (Hwy 12), Sioux City, Iowa.
