Trends Winter 2016 | Page 10

SAA Design Group KEY AVE D NATURAL ND RESOURCES INVENTORY 0 0.5 Miles Study boundary Project boundary Ecological Community Floodplain forest (frequently inundated) Floodplain forest (wet-wet mesic) Floodplain forest (mesic) Floodplain forest (mowed) Water E CR Floodway Flood Fringe General Floodplain RO CK RI VE R TU LE RT Floodplain EK KHAW K BLV D EK BLAC RE DER C AN ME DICKOP S CHA RLES ST Present ecological communities found on site, based on the site Natural Resources Inventory, 2014. a $1 million campaign to build the Learning Center and complete the surrounding landscaping,” Adams said. The Learning Center will provide education exhibits on the ecology and history of the park, including information on Native American settlements in the area. Beloit 2020 has already created a $1 million endowment to fund the exhibits and programs the Learning Center will house. “It’s a perpetual fund to make sure the building will be more than just a meeting place,” Adams said. Beloit 2020 relies on donations to pay for improvements at the site, and organizers hope construction of the Learning Center will further encourage investment in Nature at the Confluence. Everyone involved recognizes the challenges: demolishing old structures, cleaning up trash, reducing the 10│TRENDS 0 200 FEET N 37 presence of invasive species, improving poor soils to begin the process of establishing healthy habitats – essentially doing everything necessary to turn this forgotten area into a community asset. “We have to think long term,” Adams said. “How do we keep it plugging along? Patience and persistence, in the context of the plan. And each specific project completed encourages us to stay focused and committed to the long term.”