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Park District to Break Ground on Knoch Knolls Nature Center July 17
Contact: Ray McGury, Executive Director, 630-848-3500, rmcgury@napervilleparks.org Eric Shutes, Director of Planning, 630-848-5014, eshutes@napervilleparks.org Brad Wilson, Director of Recreation, 630-848-3532, bwilson@napervilleparks.org Sameera Luthman, Director of Marketing and Communications, 630-848-3570, sluthman@napervilleparks.org Date: June 18, 2013 Park District to Break Ground on Knoch Knolls Nature Center July 17 Community, Dignitaries to Help Launch "Green" Project for Nature Exploration The Naperville Park District invites the community to the groundbreaking of the Knoch Knolls Nature Center and other park improvements at 2:00 p.m. on Wed., July 17 at Knoch Knolls Park, located at 336 Knoch Knolls Road in south Naperville. Dignitaries and guests including Illinois State Senator Michael Connelly (R-21), Illinois State Representative (R-41) Darlene Senger, Conservation Foundation President/CEO Brook McDonald, Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation Program Officer Bob Romo, and others plan to join Naperville Park District commissioners, staff and the community to celebrate the beginning of this new project. "The Knoch Knolls Nature Center will provide a place for kids and adults to discover and enjoy our largest and most diverse natural area," said Naperville Park District Executive Director Ray McGury. Exhibits will include a river aquarium and graphic displays featuring plants and animals of the DuPage River Confluence, the DuPage River Watershed, the building’s green features, and sustainable practices through history. Serving as a center for nature education, the new facility itself will be a prime example of environmental sustainability, with sustainable features such as photovoltaic panels to provide renewable energy, a visible cistern that will reuse rainwater, and a highly efficient HVAC system. "We are so excited to partner with the Park District on educational programming between Knoch Knolls Park and the McDonald Farm," said Brook McDonald, president and C.E.O. of The Conservation Foundation. "The new center and our partnership will create a wonderful educational opportunity for schools, families and anyone interested in learning about nature and sustainability." The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation has awarded the Naperville Park District a $255,693 grant through its High Performance Green Building Program for energy efficient, LEED Platinum design of the Knoch Knolls Nature Center. Additionally, a $400,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will provide funding assistance for the nature center and for other park improvements at Knoch Knolls Park, including trails, a nature playground, an expansion of the disc golf course, a porous pavement parking lot, and improvements to the canoe launch. After gathering input through public open house events and through a series of meetings with a community review team, the Naperville Park District began architectural design of the Nature Center in 2012. Considering the unique geography of Knoch Knolls, which includes the confluence of the East Branch and West Branch of the DuPage River, the primary theme for the educational exhibits emerged as "Celebrating Water." Site plans, photos and additional project details are posted at www.napervilleparks.org under Capital Projects/Knoch Knolls at the following link: http://www.napervilleparks.org/parks/knoch-knolls . X X X About the Naperville Park District: Created in 1966, the Naperville Park District is an independent, municipal agency serving the recreation needs of its residents. An Illinois Distinguished Agency since 1994, the District is one of only 1 percent of park districts across the country to be nationally accredited through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). The Naperville Park District’s mission is to provide recreation and park experiences that enhance the quality of life for our community, including benefits such as community health, environmental education, social connections, and personal growth. The District maintains and operates more than 2,500 acres with 140 parks and facilities and provides more than 1,400 recreational, arts and environmental programs and special events annually. Included within the District’s operations are two championship golf courses, a multitude of playgrounds, trails, athletic courts and sports fields, two inline skating and skateboarding facilities, the Millennium Carillon, a paddle boat quarry, historic Centennial Beach, and the beautiful Riverwalk. |
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