By Danny Bernardini/ DBernardini@TheReporter.com
Posted: 04/23/2009
Roman Sykes, 4, of Alameda, points out aquatic life to Janet Kornegay in a crawl-through display Wednesday during a tour of the Lake Solano Nature Center. (Rick Roach / The Reporter)
Years of waiting came to an end Wednesday as Solano County unveiled the Lake Solano Nature Center, which will become the centerpiece for tourism in the area.
Built just inside the Lake Solano Campground on Pleasants Valley Road, the nature center includes interactive educational areas, offices for park rangers and a meeting room.
Long gone are the parking lot next to the water and the storage shed that park staff was using as a makeshift office. In their spot is a $2.8 million, 5,000-square-foot center that has been planned since the eighties.
The project was funded by a variety of sources, a large majority of which came from grants secured by a partnership of Solano County, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Putah Creek Discovery Corridor Cooperative and others.
Visitors and county officials attend the grand opening ceremony and tour of the Lake Solano Nature Center on Wednesday. (Rick Roach / The Reporter)
Although he was only hired during the final steps and construction of the building, Dan Sykes, parks services manager, knows what a long journey it was to finally see the center come to life.
"You spend so much time working on it, it means so much more when it happens," Sykes said. "Now we hope the whole county can enjoy it."
Following the footprints of several of the native animals imprinted on the floor, visitors will be able to learn about the watershed, the wildlife and wetlands that make up the area.
Prominently displayed near the entrance are three 450-gallon fish tanks showing off trout, bass and catfish. Other displays show off aquatic insects, plants and maps.
A majority of the displays offer trivia, timelines and large illustrations that fill the room, many including educational tidbits hidden behind movable squares.
The grand opening was kicked off with a ceremony including dozens of folks associated with the county and the companies that helped build the center. Among those in the crowd was Duane Davis, who spent 35 years with Solano County before retiring as park ranger in August.
Many speaking Wednesday credited Davis with pushing the dream along. Through all the proposals and possible sites, Davis said, he never imagined the nature center turning out so well.
"This one is perfect," Davis said. "This is the hub of the watershed."
Davis, who lived at Lake Solano since 1994, said he is excited to see the current rangers have a new office as well as the opportunity to teach youngsters and lead meetings.
"For these guys, it's going to open a new avenue to their career," Davis said. "It's a win for everyone."
