Joplin, MO, January 19, 2004 - The Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center in Joplin took a significant step forward today, as City officials approved a formal lease agreement for the Center. The approval took place during last evening's City Council meeting. The signing of this lease allows the Missouri Department of Conservation to sub-lease 47 acres of Wildcat Park to the National Audubon Society for the development of the Center.
Under the terms of the agreement, Audubon will lease 47 acres in Wildcat Park for a period of 50 years. The lease consists of two back-to-back 25-year leases for $1 a year. The agreement also defines the terms of several key sources of funding for the center, including the $2 million matching grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation earmarked for the bricks and mortar of the nature center building. Another key source of funding will come from the City of Joplin, under which the terms of the agreement will be realized through $500,000 in capital improvements to Wildcat Park.
“This lease now formally puts into motion the design and pre-construction pieces for the development of the Audubon Center,” said Center Executive Director Tony Robyn. “We are excited as the project continues to move forward – we have raised nearly $3 million. We are still in the process of raising approximately $2.5 million.”
In keeping with Audubon's mission of using environmentally sustainable building practices for its centers, the Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center will be designed with the help of National Audubon's in-house Green Buildings Director and Crowder College in Neosho, a national leader in sustainable design. Green architectural design elements include energy efficient lighting and heating components, water conservation measures, recycled building materials and hydroelectric energy from a small adjacent pond dam. The local firm AG Martin has agreed to lead in the organization of the construction process and hiring of an architect. A contract is pending.
The Audubon Center is a cornerstone of Audubon's 2020 Vision, a national environmental education initiative to create a network of Audubon Centers across the country providing children and others with direct experiences in nature. Through site-specific programs that encourage hands-on discovery and learning, Audubon Centers help visitors better understand the natural world around them and inspire an interest in taking care of it for the future.
