MassDevelopment and the Friends of Endicott Park have launched a new campaign through the civic crowdfunding platform Patronicity and the Commonwealth Places initiative. The campaign will support the organization’s efforts to finish construction on a nature and environmental education center in the visitor’s center at Endicott Park in Danvers. The Friends of Endicott Park will build the education center in an existing wood- shed structure already on the property, and the center will showcase displays that explore the community’s relationship with nature through exhibits and interactive experiences. Designed for visitors of all ages, the family-friendly center will feature changing exhibitions, hands-on displays, and a workspace for arts and crafts.
If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $10,000 by September 16, 2016, at midnight, the project will win a matching grant with funds from MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places program.
“We look forward to seeing the community support for Danvers’ environmental education center, which will help visitors of all ages learn more about the natural world,” said MassDevelopment Vice President of Real Estate and Municipal Services Amanda Maher. “Commonwealth Places helps support projects that leverage resources by inspiring individuals to invest in their communities, and MassDevelopment is pleased to work with Patronicity on this creative and innovative program.”
The project will help visitors understand and care about environmental stewardship; nurture a sense of wonder, imagination and creativity; provide a sense of beauty, calm, peace and refuge in an often stressful, fast-paced world; expand their intellectual development; and enhance their physical development and overall health and well-being.
“Endicott Park’s educational programming is in high demand, a great thing for our community, and we would like to grow a greater diversity of programming,” said Christine Dean, Ranger Supervisor at Endicott Park. “This new nature and environmental center would fill that need for children and their families in Danvers.”
For more information, visit Patronicity.com/endicottpark