The Grand River Conservation Area (GRCA) is getting ready to build the new Guelph Lake Nature Centre, which it expects to complete by the summer of 2020.
At its November meeting, the GRCA board allocated $100,000 to the project. This brings the funding to $1.82 million, or more than 80 per cent of the expected construction cost.
The Grand River Conservation Foundation will continue raising funds to meet the $2.5 million goal of the Nature at Your Doorstep Campaign for the Guelph Lake Nature Centre.
Funds raised will cover the cost of the facility and the site work.
Many community organizations, businesses and individuals have already contributed. Most recently, the Rotary Club of Guelph announced its Centennial Project at Guelph Lake, which includes a trail expansion, an observatory in the park, a planetarium for the nature centre and $250,000 for construction of the nature centre itself.
The club’s centennial year is also 2020.
The existing nature centre is a single-family home that was converted into a nature centre in 1980. The site has many accessibility barriers.
The new nature centre will be within Guelph Lake Park and will be accessible, providing a place for both students and people visiting the park.
