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KELSEYVILL E – The new education pavilion going up in Clear Lake State Park will aid the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association in their goal to educate the public about the valuable natural and cultural resources surrounding beautiful Clear Lake.
Ground was broken on the project at the park, located at 5300 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville, on Oct. 4, 2008, as Lake County News has reported.
A lot of fundraising effort was needed for the education pavilion, which will provide a year-round sheltered area for nature related studies and activities for students of all ages, the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association (CLSPIA) reported.
“We give full praise and appreciation to the entire community for its help, financially and emotionally,” said CLSPIA Chair Madelene Lyon. “Without this wonderful support, construction would not be under way. We are also grateful for the hours and funds provided by California State Parks to assist with the project.”
The pavilion will be located next to the visitor’s center.
“It is amazing what lives in the water here,” said Lyon. “We have over a thousand kids that come here on school field trips. They gather mud samples and water samples.”
Equipment such as microscopes will be available for studying the nature Lake County has to offer; a WiFi connection also is currently in the works for college-level studies, Lyon said. Such a facility is not available elsewhere in Lake County.
Lyon had the idea for the project on her trip to a state park luncheon at Patrick’s Point State Park, just north of Eureka. The facility they dined in influenced the education pavilion.
Work began on the pavilion Dec. 14, 2009, but fundraising and brainstorming efforts began much earlier.
From initial blueprint drafts through review by many departments within the State Department of Parks and Recreation, including local park staff, all had to be followed closely until the bid for construction was let, the agency reported.
The California Conservation Corps received the bid for construction in March 2007 for $165,250.
“We raised nearly $107,000 as a result of the wonderful response we got from the community, and the California State Parks Foundation gave $60,000 in funding,” said Lyon.
Completion of Clear Lake State Park’s education pavilion does not have a definite date.
“We have to roll with the punches,” said Lyon. “I’m guessing the opening will be early to mid-summer.”
The education pavilion will most likely be available for reservations to host other community and private events, said Lyon, but she stresses that they have not yet reached a point where that is relevant to discuss.
To find out how to donate to CLSPIA, call Lyon at 707-279-4395 or visit www.clearlakestatepark.org/clspia.htm for more information. There is also a podcast about the park available at http://www.calparks.org/podcasts/ .
For a map of Clear Lake State Park, visit www.clearlakestatepark.org/map.htm.
E-mail Tera deVroede at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .
