Page 26 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2015

COASTNOTES PASCAGOULARIVERAUDUBONCENTER
story by Susan Ruddiman
renderings courtesy of Pascagoula River Audubon Center
The opening of the new Pascagoula River Audubon Center in October will be a three day party.
“There won’t be a ribbon cutting; it will be something different. I’ve told people the only thing we will cut that day will be neckties if anyone arrives wearing one,” said Mark LaSalle, Ph.D., director of the center.
The $2.3 million 5,000-square-
foot facility will make its debut on Thursday, Oct. 15, and the celebration will continue through Saturday, Oct. 17.
This facility marks the second
one in Moss Point. The original Pascagoula River Audubon Center
was a 1,100-square-foot building
that opened on Frank Griffin Road in 2006. Three years later, LaSalle said they had outgrown that building and grounds. So he set about developing a business plan for a larger center that would celebrate the Pascagoula River — considered the longest free flowing river in the United States. The plan was approved in 2011, and construction started in 2014 on a 10-acre parcel off Arthur Street overlooking Rhodes Bayou which feeds into the Escatawpa River and Pascagoula River.
“I call what the Pascagoula River Audubon Center contributes as
nature based economic development,” LaSalle said. “We are for education and conservation, and will be bringing in tourists as well as local residents
to preserve and promote our natural resources.”
The elevated facility itself will offer an interpretative gallery, gift shop, administration offices and
an art gallery that will double as a meeting room that can be rented. The space underneath will be used for educational events. The acreage will be cleared of invasive species to highlight native plants and bird- friendly vegetation.
On the waterfront will be a boathouse, pier and kayak launch that will provide access to the bayou and rivers. The walking trails will include a children’s nature playground. In addition, the land was the site of the old trolley line that connected Moss Point and Pascagoula as well as a Boy Scout camp. These previous uses will not be forgotten. The trolley’s ticket booth will be restored as well as the open pavilion Scout Hut.
GRAND OPENING
of the Pascagoula River Audubon Center
5107 Arthur St., Moss Point 228.475.0825 pascagoulariver.audubon.org
Thursday, Oct. 15
Opening Day
10 a.m. – Opening ceremony 1:30 p.m. – Presentation and book signing by
Mark Obmascik, author of “The Big Year”
4-6 p.m. – Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours
Friday, Oct. 16
10 a.m. – Art of Nature painting workshop with Don Smith*
2 p.m. – Nature photography workshop with Robert Smith* 6.8 p.m. – Reception and art show featuring Moss Point artist Bill Nelson *Registration required for these events. Log onto http:// pascagoulariver.audubon.org
Saturday, Oct. 17
Family Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
26 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • October 2015
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