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Yakima Canyon Scenic Byway Interpretive Center |
Back in 1999 when KEEN was founded we had a dream to build a Natural History Center somewhere in the county. We looked around a lot and finally found an unloved state park just south of Ellensburg. So, several years ago, KEEN signed a 30-year lease with State Parks to develop a center at Helen McCabe State Park (see images to the right).
Helen McCabe State Park is an undeveloped park located at the gateway to the Yakima Canyon Scenic Byway (SR 821) just 2 miles south of Ellensburg. Named as a memorial to a professor of recreation at Central Washington University, the park contains many wonderful outdoor recreation and education opportunities. Bordered on the south by Wilson/Cherry Creek and on the north by Thrall Road, the 64 acre park is home to a number of impressive Ponderosa Pine trees, an 8 acre stocked pond, and a small patch of prickly pear cactus.
Over the past several years KEEN, the Kittitas County Field and Stream Club, WA Department of Fish and Wildlife, WSU Extension and other community groups have been investing in habitat restoration efforts on the site. A portion of the park was seeded with native grasses last year, nearly 200 ponderosa pine seedlings were planted this spring, and KEEN recently received a grant to plant native forbes this fall.
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Recent Efforts and How You Can Become Involved
Members of KEEN have submitted several grant applications in 2008 to support creation of the Yakima Canyon Scenic Byway Interpretive Center to be located at Helen McCabe State Park. There are several exciting things happening that we are actively pursuing and moving forward with.
Application to the WA State Scenic Byway Program
In the Spring of 2008, KEEN submitted a grant application to the state scenic byway program which funnels federal highway funds through to high ranking projects. We requested just over $200,000 for phase I of design and construction of an interpretive center. Our goal is to work with the local Ecobuilding Guild chapter, and our several friends who own straw bale homes, to come together and design and create a straw bale interpretive structure on the site. We are also planning on making improvements to the parking area and bathrooms working in partnership with the Department of Transportation. Additionally, through our partnership with the Kittitas County Field and Stream Club we are working on improvements to the fishing pond and surrounding habitat. We understand that our high ranking within the state has moved our application on to the federal review and we anticipate hearing about funding levels this fall.
Application to the Yakima Valley Community Foundation
In the Spring of 2008 KEEN submitted a grant application to the community foundation in support of the hiring of a consultant to create an Educational Master Plan for the scenic byway interpretive center. We envision that this master plan would closely coordinate learning opportunities and events with the habitat at Helen McCabe State Park as well as create close connections with area school districts and their environmental education activities. We are excited about this opportunity and are working through the next steps with the community foundation now.
How You Can Help
Do you have experience working at a nature center? Are you an educator with aspirations for an outdoor learning venue? Do you have experience with landscape architecture? Are you a fundraiser or friendraiser?
Check out our volunteer page for your opportunity to become involved during this exciting time at KEEN. We can use all the help we can get! |
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