Park will get center

The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved an option agreement and lease that will be used to construct a permanent interpretive center at the Harriet M. Wieder Regional Park.

The interpretive center has been a longtime goal of the Bolsa Chica Conservancy, said board Chairman Mark Gaughan.

The organization, which was established in 1990, has operated a temporary center in the wetlands since 1994, and has educated hundreds of thousands of people to date.

“When we established the conservancy nearly 20 years ago, we firmly believed in investing in our youth as the future leaders of our community, and we also believed that a public-private partnership like the conservancy was essential to making it happen,” said Wieder, the park’s namesake, in a news release.

She is the chairwoman emeritus of the conservancy, which plans to construct an 8,000-square-foot building on the leased site using funds raised from public and private sources.

“The city of Huntington Beach is dedicated to the preservation of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands,” Mayor Keith Bohr said in a news release. “Education is a key component to ensure the continued protection of our coastal wetlands, and the Bolsa Chica Conservancy, with its programs in wetland ecology and marine science, is vital to creating a long-lasting and successful preservation program.”

The new, 5.3-acre center and grounds will include multipurpose exhibit halls, classrooms, laboratories for hands-on science activities, nearby trails lead to Central Park and the Bolsa Chica State Beach.

“The agreement and lease with the Bolsa Chica Conservancy is an important step in expanding programs that complement our current education system while guaranteeing the preservation of a vibrant ecosystem,” county Supervisor John Moorlach said in a news release.

“The conservancy is a vital partner in delivering science-based and standards-aligned education programs to our youth, and has a strong track record in increasing public awareness of the wetlands’ importance to Orange County’s ecology.”

After the facility is constructed, the county will be responsible for its maintenance, while the conservancy will operate the interpretive programs.

“This new facility will provide expanded opportunities for learning and discovery, and we hope to continue inspiring young people to care for the environment and community in which they live,” Wieder said.

For more information, visit bolsachica.org.