August 31st, 2009 · No Comments

From Green Right Now Reports

Columbus, Ohio, is celebrating the opening of the Grange Insurance Audubon Center at Scioto Audubon Metro Park, a brownfield redevelopment site that is a major bird migration stopover point. The $14.5 million center is the first of its kind to be built so close to surrounding urban spaces, according to Ohio officials.

“This new park and nature center are a treasure for our community and are a vital component in making Columbus’ urban spaces a great place to live, work or visit,” John O’Meara, executive director of Metro Parks, said in a statement.

The 18,000-square-foot Grange Insurance Audubon Center is the culmination of efforts by the city of Columbus, Metro Parks and Audubon Ohio to redevelop the brownfield area on the Whittier Peninsula, a former industrial dumping ground. The site is now home to a 72-acre park on Columbus’ Scioto River.

The new Audubon Center was funded by a public-private partnership that included a $4 million lead gift from Grange Insurance. The center, which will be LEED certified, will host year-round environmental education programs and will include a Metro Park boat dock and climbing wall.