New Exhibits Planned for Mohawk Park Nature Center

Friday, June 8th 2007, 9:18 pm

By: News On 6

A closer tie to nature is on the way for Tulsans. Major renovations are underway at the Oxley Nature Center in Mohawk Park. New, more colorful, modern exhibits will be on display. The center is listed as having one of the top 10 butterfly counts in the nation. The News On 6â€™s Heather Lewin reports it's pretty hard to improve on what's outside the Oxley Nature Center, but directors say the inside could use some work.

â€œWell, we knew it was time to make changes to the exhibits when we have 25-30-year-olds that come in and say, 'Oh, it's just like it was when I was in the fourth gradeâ€™," said Oxley Center naturalist Susie Ruby.

Vision 2025 funds will be used for the $1 million renovations. Private donors will pay for new exhibits.

â€œWe have some real jewels here in town and that Oxley Nature Center on environmental things, there's not a second to it in the state," said Paul Zachary of Tulsa Public Works.

City leaders say the center gets thousands of visitors every year in addition to school field trips. Workers say environmentally there's a different story to tell today than in 1980. That's why they've drawn up plans that will give visitors a new hands-on-experience.

â€œThey will feature the habitats here, the woodlands, the wetlands and the prairie," Ruby said.

Volunteers are especially eager for the new backyard exhibit which will help visitors identify sights and sounds in nature that they can then go and look for at home.

"We want them to carry that experience with the natural world home with them, then be intrigued with what's in their yard," said Ruby.

After two decades as a naturalist, Ruby says she's still amazed at what she's able to find, and it's hard to pick a favorite.

"Well for me it's the birds, a lot with the birds, but then of course there's the butterflies, and now it's the dragonflies so you see how it begins and never ends,â€ Ruby said. â€œThere's always something new to learn."

Watch the video: Local Nature Center Gets Major Renovations