BRONX W www.BXTimes.com EEKLY December 16, 2018 2
Orchard Beach Nature Center renovation plan announced
The Orchard Beach Nature Center, located near Section 2 of the beach, should
be seeing renovations. Tours of the park’s many natural wonders often originate
there. Schneps Community News Group / Patrick Rocchio
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
A nature center in the borough’s
largest park is one step
closer to renovation.
The Orchard Beach Nature
Center, near section two of the
beach in Pelham Bay Park, is expected
to receive a $1.5 million
renovation of its building that is
currently in the design phase.
The center serves as a hub for
Urban Park Rangers who arrange
tours and adventure excursions
on the trails adjacent to Orchard
Beach at Hunter Island and Twin
Islands and throughout the park.
The trails feature scenic views
of Long Island Sound, along with
many species of birds and coastal
marine wildlife, according to the
NYC Parks Department.
The nature center is also a resource
for park information, according
to Parks.
Community Board 10 voted to
unanimously approve the mayoral
funded project on Monday, December
3. District manager Matt Cruz
said that much of the money allocated
would be allocated towards
roof repair.
“I think that Pelham Bay Park
has some of the rarest horticulture
and wildlife in the city. For
someone who may want to learn
more about it, this center is an important
facility,” said Cruz.
The project is all the more signifi
cant because historically Pelham
Bay Park has been underfunded,
said Cruz.
Combined with the initiative to
restore the Orchard Beach Pavilion,
a new nature center would be
a nice complement, said Cruz.
“We are excited that plans for
the renovation of the Orchard
Beach Nature Center in Pelham
Bay Park are moving forward,”
said Bonnie McGuire, Urban Park
Rangers director. “Upon its completion,
the center will be ADA
compliant and will boast a new
open, fl exible layout that can help
meet varied programming needs.”
The design phase of the project
is expected to last until early
2019, and it will be followed by a
procurement period that on average
lasts nine months, according
to Parks.
Debby Kawalick said that the
nature center allows Bronxites of
all ages to learn about wildlife,
including seals and owls, that inhabit
the area.
Many people aren’t aware that
such wildlife exists in the borough,
she said.
The center itself also has a collection
of artifacts that encapsulate
the natural world beyond its
walls, said Kawalick.
“Seeing these artifacts helps
children and adults learn about
what is in the park and puts wildlife
in context for them,” she said.
Kawalick said that she has been
inside the center during inclement
weather and has witnessed leaks
emanating from the roof.
The Friends of Pelham Bay
Park, an advocacy group for the
park, are very excited that progress
is being made on the nature
center, said the organization’s
president Nilka Martell.
“The center opened in 1986 and
was in need of an extreme makeover,”
said Martell.
She said that the center is a
great place for Urban Park Rangers
to host their family workshops
and nature walks.
Kawalick said that its programming
even includes a 12-hour overnight
camping adventure offered
by lottery in the summer, and seal
watches from the beach.
A plan has been set in motion to renovate
Orchard Beach’s Nature Center.
Schneps Community News Group / Patrick
Rocchio
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