OWMA Open House Held
November 26, 2009 by SNBWTP
Filed under Regional News
| By Whitney Donahue Moapa Valley Progress Published Nov. 25, 2009The Nevada Department of Wildlife held an open house on Thursday to unveil the design plans for the new visitor center planned for the Overton Wildlife Management Area. On hand to explain the design concepts were Kelly Clark, Conservation Education Chief for NDOW; Doug Nielsen, Public Affairs/Education Supervisor; and representatives from the architectural firm of Pugsley, Simpson, Coulter Architects. “Our desire is for the visitor center to become an important part of the Moapa Valley community,” Clark said. |
| The visitor center is currently in the design phase. The plans for the center include a Quonset hut-style classroom, an interpretive center/museum, NDOW offices, restrooms, a picnic area, an outdoor amphitheater complete with a fire pit, an interpretive trail system, a pond, and an open-space learning area.The architects have planned the center to fit in with the surrounding area. The buildings will be barn red and utilize natural lighting. The center boasts a deconstructed silo near the picnic area. Gambion walls enclose the western courtyard, providing much needed shade while utilizing an eco-friendly product.
The center will be approximately 4900 square feet, while the whole project will be built on an 8-acre parcel. NDOW expects there to be many volunteer opportunities once the center is completed. They expect the area to be utilized by tourists, community members, and youth groups. The Overton Wildlife Management Area was created in 1953 through an agreement between the Nevada Fish and Game Commission (now NDOW), the Bureau of Reclamation, and the National Park Service. Funding for the project is provided through the Conservation and Resource Grant Program. NDOW expects the project to move into the bid process in early spring 2010. |
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