Historic Preservation | Award of Merit Green Lakes State Park, Environmental Education Center

SOURCES OF PUBLIC FINANCING Public funding for the $6 million project came primarily from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, and includes the building’s construction, infrastructure improvements, and habitat restoration. Additional funding came from the Central Regional State Parks Commission, which raised $1 million in donations and grants for the project. A $500,000 Environmental Protection Fund grant through the Central Region Economic Development Council was obtained by The Open Space Institute for funding of the building’s construction. Approximately 95% of the total construction cost came from public funds.

SUBMITTED BY Beardsley | Auburn, New York

Photo Credit | © 2019 John Griebsch

Historic Preservation | Award of Merit Green Lakes State Park, Environmental Education Center | Auburn, New York

AN HISTORIC BOATHOUSE BECOMES AN EDUCATION CENTER

Enhancing the Visitor Experience at the Most Visited Park in Central New York.

Originally constructed in 1942, the historic boathouse at Green Lakes State Park is an iconic structure to anyone who has visited the beach at the north end of Green Lake. The building had been in use since its construction, but lacked an adequate foundation due to poor soils. The NYS Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYSOPRPH) selected the architect/engineer to design the restoration and conversion of the building into a new environmental education center. As a registered historic structure, renovations also required coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office. An assessment determined that the building could be salvaged, but due to settlement and failure of the foundation, proximity to the water, and flooding issues, it should be relocated inland. To create the new environmental education center and alleviate structural issues, the existing structure was meticulously dismantled and rebuilt on an entirely new foundation system, preserving as much of the building as possible. Existing stone columns were catalogued, moved by crane to the new foundation, and repaired. Interior wood beams were also relocated to preserve the historic architecture on the building’s interior. Relocation also allowed the design team to rotate the structure 180 degrees so the central gathering space could face the lake instead of the parking lot. Following relocation, the building was restored and renovated to provide four-season usage. As visitors walk along the lake, they can take a detour to the building to learn about the Park. The central exhibit space, anchored by the preserved stone columns, includes educational kiosks and displays about the Park’s unique meromictic lakes, wildlife and habitats, and history. Skylights along

the vaulted ceiling allow light to stream into the room. Windows line the space and large sliding doors on both ends of the building can be slid open, creating a truly open room that looks out onto the stunning blue-green lake and woods beyond, immersing visitors with their surroundings. Wood paneling on the walls and ceiling creates a warm and inviting space that feels connected to surrounding wooded area. The building also includes restrooms, a kitchenette, offices for Park educators, and generous storage space. An outdoor education space was created for use by school groups or other interpretive presentations. A small boat rental building was also relocated and renovated for continued use. A vital part of the project was also the preservation of the surrounding outdoor environment. Environmental improvements include ‘naturalization’ of the lake edge, installation of sustainable infrastructure elements as part of the parking lot rehabilitation, and upgrades to the stormwater management system, which now directs stormwater to bioretention basins and constructed wetlands instead of allowing runoff to flow directly into Green Lake.

What is the greater social value of the project? Since the building was a beloved local landmark and an important piece of the

Park’s overall history, saving it from continued distress and decay allowed the team to maintain a culturally significant piece of our heritage. Re-purposing it to become a tool for educating the public allows the building to serve the community in an additional manner. The restoration of the building provides the Park with an entirely new space to educate the public about the unique features and history of the Park. An interpretive center like this one did not previously exist in the Park and has allowed Park educators to vastly expand and enhance their programming. The interior and exterior spaces provide an array of learning opportunities to students and the public through the use of interactive displays within the exhibit space as well as outdoor signage along the boardwalk. In addition, opportunities for school groups to visit the Park have expanded, particularly through the Connect-Kidsto-Parks Field Trip Grant Program, which provides the financial assistance necessary to connect kids throughout New York with history and nature. The new boardwalk and restoration of the boathouse has provided patrons with improved access to boating on the lake as well as access to the lake itself. The transformation of the waterfront provides additional recreation opportunities for patrons where access was previously difficult or entirely impossible depending on one’s abilities.

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community? The most visited Park in Central New York, Green Lakes State Park is a popular destination. Improvements to the waterfront enhance the visitor experience and assist in boosting the local economy. New education facilities provide local schools with opportunities to teach students about the unique habitat found in their own backyard. The new boardwalk and renovated boathouse have provided the community with additional access to boating on the lake, ultimately improving the overall health and wellness of Park patrons. Infrastructure improvements preserve the Park’s unique natural habitat, benefiting Park visitors as well as the lake, plants, and animals that make the Park so special and important to the community. Restoration of a historic structure such as this, as opposed to demolition and replacement, not only preserves the architectural style of the Park, but also preserves the history of the community. Since the construction of the original building began in 1941 under the forces of the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) and was then completed by Parks personnel in 1942 after the start of World War II, the building is a monument to transformative times in our Nation’s history and continues to play an evolving role in the local community. Its restoration has allowed members of the community to enjoy the building in a new capacity, while preserving the historical significance of the original structure. n