John Bunker Sands Wetland Center STRATEGIC VISION

John Bunker Sands Wetland Center STRATEGIC VISION FINAL PLAN SUMMARY AUGUST 2017 Matt Bucchin, AICP Director of Planning Halff Associates, Inc. Lenny Hughes, PLA Regional Director Halff Associates, Inc.

Strategic Vision Outline Overview of Process Executive Summary of Document Highlights on Recommendations Prioritization Results and Discussion

Overview of the Process Apr. 2016 RFQ for Master Planning Effort Nov. 2016 Finalize Approach to Planning Effort Dec. 2016 Board Selection of Halff Associates Inc. Jan. 2017 Background research & analysis Feb. 2017 Project Kick-off Events, Community Input, Surveys and Open Houses Apr. 2017 Board Preliminary Review Jul. 2017 Final Review & Approval 6 month process from kick-off to final plan review

Public Engagement Board meetings Stakeholder meetings Design charrette 3 surveys (community, educator, peer community) 2 open houses

Stakeholder Meetings

Board Meetings

Open Houses

Walking Tour

Design Charrette

Overview of the Document John Bunker Sands Wetland Center Strategic Plan Section 1 Project Background & Context Section 2 Operations Analysis Section 3 Market Analysis Section 4 Recommendations Section 5 Implementation Appendices

Regional Context The JBS Sands Wetland Center is located in the middle of the 2,000-acre East Fork Water Reuse Project Filters treated wastewater for the NTMWD s 13member cities and provides water to almost 90 different client cities

Planning Process Goals Truly represent what users want and need Create opportunities for a truly unique nature center & system Be ambitious, yet realistic Action oriented Build upon the existing facilities on the site

Planning Timeframe

School Program Growth

Overall Growth

Facility Assessment Site Access and Image Main Entrance Information

Facility Assessment Accessibility issues Lack of physical connection Not optimal user experience

Facility Assessment Not optimal outdoor teaching space Lack of breakout space in wetlands Maintenance issues

Staffing

Revenue Generation

Fundraising Events

Community Growth

Community Growth The 13 member cities could see another 750,000 people in the next 25 years, reaching almost 2 million people

13 NTMWD Member City Schools #s Region 10 ESC Schools 281 elementary schools 80 middle schools 46 high schools 407 total schools accounting for almost 340,000 students

13 NTMWD Member City School Penetration Based on assumptions and estimates, the JBS Wetland Center is currently reaching about 3 percent of member city schools per year

Market Demand Stakeholder Meetings Open Houses Surveys Community Survey (358 responses) Teacher Survey (22 responses) Peer Facility Survey (9 responses) Design Charrettes Board Meetings

What types of services and/or facility amenities would you like the Center to consider over the next 3 years? 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Observation tower Expanded and formalized trail system (i.e., trail head, Bird viewing blinds Interpretative signage along trails and boardwalk Water access for canoe / kayak /fishing More live camera video feeds Expanded outdoor classroom space in the wetlands Picnic areas near the Center Picnic areas out in the wetlands Summer/Winter Camps Expanded enclosed classroom space 61.3% 60.1% 51.8% 42.6% 36.2% 28.8% 22.1% 18.4% 16.3% 16.3% 9.5%

Picnic areas or pavilion near the Center (to Expanded outdoor classroom space in the wetlands Expanded and formalized trail system (i.e., trail Observation tower Interpretative signage along trails and Bird viewing blinds More live camera video feeds (currently there is Expanded enclosed classroom space Other (please specify) Picnic areas out in the wetlands Water access for canoe / kayak / fishing Priority Short Term Facility Enhancements 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Classroom/Education Space Type of Space # selected as % Selected as Top 2 Priority Top 2 Priority Indoor Classroom 2 6% Lab Space 1 3% Portable Yurt 12 34% Outdoor Classroom 24 69% Breakout Space 7 20% Interactive Exploring Sp 24 69% Total: 35

Vision and Mission

Action Plans 3 Action Plans Operations Plan Programmatic Plan Physical Plan 97 Recommendations 3 Phase Implementation Near-Term Initiated Year 1 Mid-Term Initiated Years 2 to 5 Longer-Term Initiated Years 6+

Operations Plan

Physical Plan

Programmatic Plan

Near-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Year 1) ACTION 4.45. Create a temporary classroom space to accommodate a second class of students. ACTION 4.2. Conduct targeted outreach to each of the ISDs in the 13 member cities ACTION 4.35. Continue to utilize the annual campaign to raise funding for sustainable operations and near-term expansion. ACTION 4.72. Coordinate with each school district in the 13 member district area to get the Wetland Center pre-approved for authorized class field trips. ACTION 4.1. Coordinate with the NTMWD to increase awareness of the Wetland Center, its partnership and interrelationship with the 13 member cities.

Near-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Year 1) ACTION 4.43. Consider pursuing grant funding for planned improvements. ACTION 4.3. Increase the use of social media to promote the Wetland Center. ACTION 4.21. Initiate a discussion on board governance to explore needs for long-term growth. ACTION 4.33. Evaluate opportunities to improve coordination between on-site District staff and operations of the Wetland Center. ACTION 4.73. Develop a brochure/flyer which details the benefits of a student field trip with highlighted teacher testimonials.

Near-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Year 1) ACTION 4.15. Enhance entry monument signage as part of the development of a potential new education/visitor center. ACTION 4.27. Expand the days of the week where the Wetland Center is open for general public access. ACTION 4.19. Partner with the NTMWD to institutionalize educational field trips to the Wetland Center for each school located within the District s 13 member and customer cities. ACTION 4.18. Develop materials to tell the story about the unique partnership that allows the Wetland Center to operate.

Near-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Year 1) ACTION 4.4. Coordinate with the NTMWD and other existing and potential partners to develop and disseminate information on water conservation and other sustainable practices. ACTION 4.30. Increase full- or part-time staffing, or volunteers to respond to increases in drop-in visitation. ACTION 4.12. Encourage user groups to promote the Wetland Center and its mission. ACTION 4.64. Establish a permanent mounted scope on the back deck for Eagle viewing. ACTION 4.79. Develop a program of incentives to bring students and their families back for a repeat visit.

Near-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Year 1) ACTION 4.74. Explore opportunities to provide a first-come, first-serve option to the ISDs in the 13 member city area prior to open enrollment for all non-member city schools. ACTION 4.7. Consider undergoing a rebranding campaign to fully acknowledge the unique partnerships that make the Wetland Center possible. ACTION 4.28. Expand the hours of operation for when the Wetland Center is open for general public access. ACTION 4.92. Coordinate with the NTMWD to promote mission-related rental use of the Wetland Center. ACTION 4.91. Identify a list of mission-related user groups which could be targeted to host a special program on-site.

Mid-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Years 2-5) ACTION 4.48. Create an open-air classroom in the wetlands to create an immersive educational classroom environment. ACTION 4.46. Modify the existing Wetland Center facility to improve the overall educational experience. ACTION 4.38. Conduct a large fundraising campaign to raise money for expanded operations and larger capital investments. ACTION 4.44. Periodically offer capital and endowment campaigns to support larger-scale planned improvements and to strengthen long-term operational budgets. ACTION 4.37. Coordinate with a capital campaign consultant to determine a framework for a large capital campaign outreach effort.

Mid-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Years 2-5) ACTION 4.39. Proactively pursue corporate sponsors and other private donations. ACTION 4.20. Partner with the NTMWD to create take home materials from school programs on water conservation, xeriscaping, etc. ACTION 4.84. Partner with the NTMWD and others to diversify the types of educational programming provided on site. ACTION 4.40. Establish an endowment capital and/or operational campaign. ACTION 4.47. Consider building a more permanent, but flexible classroom space.

Mid-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Years 2-5) ACTION 4.77. Explore opportunities to pursue grant funding to off-set the costs of transportation between individual schools and the wetlands. ACTION 4.36. Utilize a more formalized Steward of the Wetland Center program to offset funding increases. ACTION 4.51. Enhance the entrance of the Wetland Center to improve entry and add additional space. ACTION 4.50. Identify opportunities to maximize interpretative signage in the core areas of the Wetland Center. ACTION 4.49. Create additional opportunities for habitat immersion and interactive hands-on learning.

Mid-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Years 2-5) ACTION 4.57. Create an official wayfinding program along the designated trail system. ACTION 4.14. Formulate a plan of action to invite each City Council and School Board from the 13 member city area to the Wetland Center for annual strategic meetings and retreats. ACTION 4.32. Develop and promote unique user experiences at the wetlands. ACTION 4.77. Work with one or more identified colleges/universities to develop the educational framework and program to utilize the Wetland Center as an official research institution. ACTION 4.80. Consider establishing an annual teacher s forum to obtain feedback on needs and the effectiveness of educational programming.

Mid-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Years 2-5) ACTION 4.81. Develop an educational program which challenges students to come up with the next big solution to an identified environmental problem. ACTION 4.60. Enhance additional areas throughout the Wetland Center property to improve user experience. ACTION 4.53. Create a master plan to identify the design configuration of a new education/visitor center facility. ACTION 4.69. Establish facilitated group site tours of the entire wetland facility. ACTION 4.24. Create opportunities for community volunteer work days or special events to engage nearby local communities.

Mid-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Years 2-5) ACTION 4.13. Maximize the use of technology to promote the Wetland Center. ACTION 4.26. Expand partnerships with higher education/research institutions to determine demand and needs for establishing the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center as a research institution. ACTION 4.56. Establish a formal trailhead at the main Wetland Center parking lot. ACTION 4.59. Improve the core trail experience and ADA accessibility for all visitors. ACTION 4.65. Establish a series of bird viewing blinds to create destination points for protected wildlife viewing.

Mid-Term Priority Actions (Initiated Years 2-5) ACTION 4.10. Consider a full- or part-time outreach coordinator to proactively market the wetlands. ACTION 4.22. Partner with Region 10 ESC to create summer day camps/education programs for the Wetland Center. ACTION 4.66. Establish an observation tower in the wetlands. ACTION 4.16. Continue pursuit of the Recreational and Cultural Interests traffic sign to promote awareness of the Wetland Center. ACTION 4.70. Improve habitat for certain species and wildlife observation.