RELEASE: Dedication of Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom set for May 20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2015
Contact: Brad Meyer
brad.meyer@ci.stpaul.mn.us
651-894-3258 (c)  

 

Dedication of Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom set for May 20

The public is invited to attend the long-awaited dedication of the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom on Wednesday May 20 at 11:30 AM in Como Regional Park.

The Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom (CWOC) has been a community driven project since 2006. Supporters, students, and community members will gather at the CWOC on the south side of Como Regional Park at 1221 Como Avenue, between the Kilmer Memorial Fireplace and the Como Pool.

Tim Chase, Murray Middle School teacher and MAEE’s 2014 Environmental Educator of the Year, will be the keynote speaker. He will share his experiences on why giving all students opportunities to explore the natural world arouses their curiosity and opens up new career possibilities.

After the ceremony, students will plant a tree near the Kilmer Memorial Fireplace and take part in a habitat restoration activity in the woodland; the public is encouraged to take part.

Como Woodland, the 18-acre parcel located at the southwest corner of Como Regional Park, is the largest piece of contiguous forest in the area. What had once been a declining woodland overrun with invasive species and trash is now on its way becoming a healthy forest and prairie outdoor learning space.

The woodland has been restored through the hard work of community volunteers with support from the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department and a grant from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Native flowers and shrubs have been reintroduced and ADA accessible trails have been installed. The woodland is now home to a fox family and over 40 species of birds.

The CWOC is intended to be a place of learning, recreation, and nature appreciation for all ages and species. In the case of rain, the ceremony will be held at the Midway Picnic Shelter at the corner of Midway Parkway and Horton Avenue.

About Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is a nationally accredited and gold medal award-winning organization that manages more than 170 parks and open spaces, AZA-accredited Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, 25 city-operated recreation centers, more than 100 miles of trails, an indoor and two outdoor aquatic facilities, a public beach, municipal golf courses, a variety of premium sports facilities, and Great River Passage – which is the new identity for all proposed public development along Saint Paul’s more than 17 miles of Mississippi riverfront. For more information about Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, visit www.stpaul.gov/parks.

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Photo cutline (for attached image): Community volunteers and Great River School students birding during an educational workshop at Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom