Ramsey County owns and operates Tamarack Nature Center (TNC) near White Bear Lake, MN. TNC is a 320 acre site located in Bald Eagle – Otter Lake Regional Park. The County felt the traditional nature center had the potential to perform a more vital role in engaging children and families in nature. The County and others want to get children more involved in the dynamics of nature and reverse the negative affects of "nature deficit" in our young people. In 2006, the County hired the HKGi team to prepare a Comprehensive Master Plan to revitalize TNC to become a true destination for the region. HKGi worked closely with the County project planning team and was assisted by James Roe, an interpretive specialist; Forecast Public Arts; Gary Hittle, Landscape Architect; and Kodet Architects.

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The HKGi Team produced a dynamic master plan designed to create a new hands-on destination that combines nature, art and learning. The plan includes a vision, strategic plan, interpretive plan, site development plan and concepts plans for engaging outdoor and indoor nature experiences. The use of a visual preference survey of national and international examples of nature, arts, and learning best practices helped define the desired character for the re-envisioned TNC. The planning and design work included preparation of a construction cost estimate and a phasing plan for the $8.4 million revitalization project. The County is seeking funding for phase one construction and plans to turn TNC into A New Destination for Discovery over a five year period.

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