Root River Environmental Education Community Center (REC)
UPDATE: Community Planning Meeting Notes - June 7, 2007
On June 7th, the River Bend Nature Center hosted a community planning meeting for the Root River Environmental Education Community Center. About 40 community residents joined us for an update on current progress and to make suggestions for REC's development. Click here to download a copy of the presentation (PowerPoint), and click here to download the notes from the meeting.
The UW-Parkside Center for Community Partnerships is working with the City of Racine Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services to establish the facility at 1301 6th Street as the Root River Environmental Education and Community Center (REC). Like the CEDAR location, the REC facility is in an ideal location to foster awareness of the ecological, economic, historic, cultural, and other assets associated with the Root River. Located near downtown Racine, this site is particularly accessible to individuals and organizations in the urban area.
In addition to the availability of a boat ramp, this location is also adjacent to the Root River Pathway. Therefore, plans are underway to offer ecologically-friendly recreation opportunities as well as environmental and continuing education opportunities for the general public.
REC is collaborative effort and is connected to several existing environmental education and stewardship efforts. With support from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Grant program, work will begin in the summer of 2007 on the development of site-specific educational materials (environmental displays, signage for the pathways, etc.). Organizers are also collaborating with River Bend Nature Center and Racine Unified School District to bring pre-existing K-12 educational programs to this facility. The River Alliance of Wisconsin recently received funding from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Grant program, which will support an ongoing effort to restore the downtown Racine stretch of the Root River. The Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network has awarded UW-Parkside a grant to develop educational signage along the Root River Pathway. Root-Pike WIN's support will enable four national park-type interpretive signs in the vacinity of the REC Center. Working together with these organizations, local citizens, business owners, elected officials in Racine, and others, REC is a part of a growing effort to place the Root River at the center of downtown revitalization.
We invite the public to assist us with this important development. In addition to inviting public participation in our strategic planning, donations of time, talent, and resources are always accepted. Specific needs include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Donations of eco-friendly recreational equipment (kayaks, canoes, PFDs, bikes, etc.)
- Donations of furniture (chairs, desks, display boards, etc.)
- Donations of construction materials and/or in-kind support for facility renovations
- Donations (or loans) of educational materials and/or displays
- Financial contributions of any amount
If you are interested in learning more or making a contribution, please contact:
Tom Schnaubelt (262-595-3340)
Dean for Community Engagement & Civic Learning
John Skalbeck (262-595-2490)
Assistant Professor of Geosciences, Director of the Environmental Studies Program
Interested parties are also encouraged to email Ben Lehner to become a member of the Friends of the Centers. The Friends of the Centers will receive periodic updates and invitations to future strategic planning sessions.
Financial contributions are tax-deductable and can be made payable to:
CCP-REC Fund
c/o Thomas Schnaubelt,
Dean for Community Engagement & Civic Learning
UW-Parkside Center for Community Partnerships
900 Wood Road, Box 2000
Kenosha, WI 53141
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