Valley Nature Center’s New Building Project
Trails & Wetland
Refurbished Nature Trails – Project Phase 1
The winding trails in the six acre nature park have long allowed visitors to become immersed in nature’s delicate ways. But after 35 years of use, the old “blacktop” trails corroded away.
The first of the building project was to replace the trail surfaces, benches, trash receptacles, and add trail name signs and interpretive signage through the park.
About one mile of trails was replaced with native caliche (finely crushed limestone material). This allowed us to stay as “green” as possible with short delivery routes and local materials. Benches from recycled plastic were placed along the trails.
Please take a look at a few project photos below! We also want to thank our funders who made Phase 1 possible and are also listed below.
Wetland Adjoining New Building – Project Phase 3
An old existing concert pond in the northwest arm of the nature park will be demolished and re-built as a natural wetland. This half acre wetland will be extended to come in close to the north end of the new building, across what is now a blacktop basketball court.
A boardwalk made of mostly recycled material will extend across the wetland with a small viewing area. The board walk will be the main entrance and exit to the VNC six acre nature park. Interpretive signage will be erected on the boardwalk to interpret wetland life, the role of the pond for storm water, etc.
The wetland should be sloped for different depths but will be shallow over all, probably no deeper than two feet at any place. At least two sides will be very shallow with mudflats in many areas. The wetland itself and surrounding shorelines will be re-vegetated with native wetland plants.
The wetland will act as a storm water runoff basin, both from surrounding park areas, as well as overflow from the rain water harvesting system on the new building. It is not going to be circulated mechanically but will act as a natural wetland would.
SEE THE PHOTOS BELOW
The New VNC Trail Map – By Peter Valadez
Trail Ground Breaking Event, March 2008
Trail Construction Project in Full Swing
New Recycled Plastic Benches
Along Trails
Newly Installed Trail Name Signs – Eagle Scout Project by Michael Sauls
New Interpretive Panels Educate and Show The Way
