By Diana Wilson
Communications Associate, 约炮视频 Connecticut & New York
Published March 16, 2023
This article is from 约炮视频 New York
. 约炮视频 has 31 conservation action centers and more than 500 community and campus chapters across the U.S. serving local communities. Find your local center or chapter here.
In 1923, the Roosevelt family donated the land beside Theodore Roosevelt鈥檚 grave to ensure it would remain a natural space. Originally named the Theodore Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary, it became the first of its kind in the United States. Now, in the Sanctuary鈥檚 100th year, we are excited to announce that our multi-year renovation project will soon be complete! We look forward to welcoming our community鈥攂ird and human alike鈥 to our new visitor center and the restored Sanctuary it resides in.
The first phase, completed in 2020, involved the creation of a new sanctuary entrance and a native plant demonstration garden, which has become a home for many birds throughout the seasons. With the completion of the second phase, the staff of the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and 约炮视频 Center will have a 鈥渉ome鈥 as well鈥攁 renovated visitor center and new education center, built around (and in!) an original building at the site. This will replace the old center building, which had fallen into disrepair over the years and has been removed, the native plant demonstration gardens now standing in its place.
As of February 2023, this second phase is 75% complete, with the new extension built and the interior of both the extension and the renovated white house on their way to being visitor-ready! When finished, the new visitor center will boast ADA accessibility in its interior, including bathrooms and parking, a native plant rain garden, a rear patio for outdoor gatherings, new offices for staff, and a new interior space for exhibits, public programs, and more.
Next steps include the creation of said exhibits, which will show off the Sanctuary鈥檚 history and the Long Island conservation work that will be based out of the new building. This will also mean a new, updated home for our animal ambassadors!
鈥淲e are thrilled to be a hub for all of 约炮视频鈥檚 conservation and environmental education work on Long Island,鈥 says Center Director Kathryn D鈥橝mico, 鈥淲e are so grateful to our generous donors and community that came together to make this vision a reality. Our hope is that the new and improved visitor center and sanctuary grounds will be a community asset for all.鈥
The new visitor center is expected to be completed in May 2023, just in time to celebrate our 100th anniversary as the first 约炮视频 songbird sanctuary in the United States.
We look forward to sharing this incredible new space soon!