The center is on eight acres that wrap around a pond between the new agriculture center site and the Bradley County landfill. Young trees, evergreen and deciduous, shrubs and flowering plants will soon show spring buds. Bird boxes stand among the trees. A pavilion is surrounded by raised beds of trees and summer's flowering plants. The nature center, she says, is a place where school groups can learn about the outdoors.
Lesson plans are available for teachers upon request.
The Ocoee Regional Nature Center's history goes back to 1991 when a citizens group called for improvements in the area. In 1993, the Cleveland-Bradley Chapter of Keep America Beautiful and Santek Environmental, the contract operator of the landfill, created a picnic area and installed education displays. Cheryl Dunson of Santek and Dyan Hayes, then director of the nature center, drew more extensive plans for the site. Doreen Howard of Santek began implementing the plan. Also last year, a donation of over 100 trees allowed the center to expand its display of trees and share with city and county parks.