News > Local News
Services cut from Wint Nature Center at Independence Oaks County Park WITH VIDEO
Thursday, March 22, 2012 7:16 AM EDT
Wint Nature Center at Independence Oaks County Park will soon be a “visitor center” instead of a nature center after $234,400 was cut from its budget by the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission.
The Wint Nature Center now runs on half of its previous budget, despite the voters approving a renewal of Oakland County Parks and Recreation’s 0.2415-mill property tax for the next 10 years. The money cut from the budget was added to the parks’ operating budget.
Manager of Parks and Recreation Sue Wells said, “We have 29 different budget centers in the park system, and with the shrinking property values, even though we have a millage, that money is less.”
The Wint Nature Center, which was built 27 years ago, is currently the only nature center at Oakland County Parks and Recreation after the Lyon Oaks Nature Center closed down about a year ago.
Recreation Program Supervisor and Parks Naturalist Lynn Conover said the booking of all interpretative services, such as field trips, outreach services, scout events and birthday parties, are on hold right now per an administrative directive.
“Folks seemed to be very disheartened about any sort of scaling back of services because they've come to depend on this facility as a place where they come to gain further knowledge of the natural world, help their children earn their scout badges, have their birthday parties and make memories,” said Conover. “We only have one full-time employee. In efforts to trim the budget, we've given up the cleaning crew. We've absorbed clerical along with operating the facility and trying to maintain the highest level of interpretive programming.”
The Nature Center is currently open to walk-in visitors 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The hours were cut this year from the previous hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to five Sunday.
Wells said the building will not close, but it will not be the historical model it had once been.
“We still want to provide for school groups. What that looks like, we don't specifically know. We're working that out right now,” Wells said. “There will be a naturalist who will be putting on programs. The programs won’t necessarily be housed in that facility, but we still want to provide quality education programs.”
Conover, who has worked for Parks and Recreation for 28 years, said it is increasingly challenging to deliver quality services at the same level with limited resources. Conover said, with less resources, there are less opportunities for field trips and other community activities.
“I have a very small and extremely dedicated, professional staff. Right now, we have four part-time staff and one full-time. At one point, there were five full-time here, and there was as many as eight or nine part-time staff,” said Conover.
Wells said she doesn't know why the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission decided to cut from the Wint Nature Center.
“It was a recommendation under Public Act 261, which is the public act that creates parks and recreation commission. (The parks and recreation commission) has to approve our budget, and then its approved by the county board of commissioners,” said Wells. “Last year, each budget center cut 10 percent of their budget. It's not like this is the only thing that has been looked at. Each supervisor has been trimming their budget each year.”
The Wint Nature Center currently still offers live reptiles, amphibian and fish exhibits; mounted displays of native wildlife such as coyotes and beavers; a feeding station for mammals and birds; and limited weekend family programs.
Conover said, “The building is an important structure, but I think what really makes memories for people are the relationships they have with Oakland County Parks employees and the services we deliver. We will continue to do our utmost to deliver the highest quality nature experiences so families can continue to build memories. That is definitely number one for us, and we’re trying to continue that despite very challenging circumstances.”
FYI — Interested businesses and individuals who would like to host a program or donate to the Wint Nature Center, call 248-858-0906. For individuals who want more information about the cut in funding for the Wint Nature Center or who would like to address the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission, the next meeting is 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 4 at the Parks and Recreation administration office, 2800 Watkins Lake Road in Waterford Township. Wint Nature Center is located at 9501 Sashabaw Road in Independence Township. Their new hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call 248-625-6473 or visit DestinationOakland.com.
Contact Monica Drake at 248-745-4687 or email her at monica.drake@oakpress.com. Find her on Twitter at monica_adele.
The Wint Nature Center now runs on half of its previous budget, despite the voters approving a renewal of Oakland County Parks and Recreation’s 0.2415-mill property tax for the next 10 years. The money cut from the budget was added to the parks’ operating budget.
Manager of Parks and Recreation Sue Wells said, “We have 29 different budget centers in the park system, and with the shrinking property values, even though we have a millage, that money is less.”
The Wint Nature Center, which was built 27 years ago, is currently the only nature center at Oakland County Parks and Recreation after the Lyon Oaks Nature Center closed down about a year ago.
Recreation Program Supervisor and Parks Naturalist Lynn Conover said the booking of all interpretative services, such as field trips, outreach services, scout events and birthday parties, are on hold right now per an administrative directive.
“Folks seemed to be very disheartened about any sort of scaling back of services because they've come to depend on this facility as a place where they come to gain further knowledge of the natural world, help their children earn their scout badges, have their birthday parties and make memories,” said Conover. “We only have one full-time employee. In efforts to trim the budget, we've given up the cleaning crew. We've absorbed clerical along with operating the facility and trying to maintain the highest level of interpretive programming.”
The Nature Center is currently open to walk-in visitors 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The hours were cut this year from the previous hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to five Sunday.
Wells said the building will not close, but it will not be the historical model it had once been.
“We still want to provide for school groups. What that looks like, we don't specifically know. We're working that out right now,” Wells said. “There will be a naturalist who will be putting on programs. The programs won’t necessarily be housed in that facility, but we still want to provide quality education programs.”
Conover, who has worked for Parks and Recreation for 28 years, said it is increasingly challenging to deliver quality services at the same level with limited resources. Conover said, with less resources, there are less opportunities for field trips and other community activities.
“I have a very small and extremely dedicated, professional staff. Right now, we have four part-time staff and one full-time. At one point, there were five full-time here, and there was as many as eight or nine part-time staff,” said Conover.
Wells said she doesn't know why the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission decided to cut from the Wint Nature Center.
“It was a recommendation under Public Act 261, which is the public act that creates parks and recreation commission. (The parks and recreation commission) has to approve our budget, and then its approved by the county board of commissioners,” said Wells. “Last year, each budget center cut 10 percent of their budget. It's not like this is the only thing that has been looked at. Each supervisor has been trimming their budget each year.”
The Wint Nature Center currently still offers live reptiles, amphibian and fish exhibits; mounted displays of native wildlife such as coyotes and beavers; a feeding station for mammals and birds; and limited weekend family programs.
Conover said, “The building is an important structure, but I think what really makes memories for people are the relationships they have with Oakland County Parks employees and the services we deliver. We will continue to do our utmost to deliver the highest quality nature experiences so families can continue to build memories. That is definitely number one for us, and we’re trying to continue that despite very challenging circumstances.”
FYI — Interested businesses and individuals who would like to host a program or donate to the Wint Nature Center, call 248-858-0906. For individuals who want more information about the cut in funding for the Wint Nature Center or who would like to address the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission, the next meeting is 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 4 at the Parks and Recreation administration office, 2800 Watkins Lake Road in Waterford Township. Wint Nature Center is located at 9501 Sashabaw Road in Independence Township. Their new hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call 248-625-6473 or visit DestinationOakland.com.
Contact Monica Drake at 248-745-4687 or email her at monica.drake@oakpress.com. Find her on Twitter at monica_adele.
