The Discovery Center - Urban Conservation by yooperprof
I was very glad to see this new center in the middle of Kansas City. "Urban Conservation" is one of my big soapbox issues. I can go on and on about it. We all love nature, don't we? We all cherish America's "wild areas" and National Park, right? Sometimes though we are in danger of loving them to death. Sprawl, commericalization, overcrowding, overuse - these are real problems in our _parks_, not only in our cities. There is a real connection between American rather miserable urban centers, and the increasing threats to the well-being of the natural world. I think we have failed to see the connection the natural environment and the maintenance of our cities as healthy, sustainable, and enjoyable places. Simply put, one of the best ways we can protect and preserve our remaining natural wonders is to make our cities better places. In their own words: "The goals of the Discovery Center are to provide a building and grounds that show real ways to live in harmony with nature, build conservation knowledge and skills based on interests of urban residents, provide traditional conservation services in the heart of the city, and to link conservation and communities by creating partnerships."
The Discovery Center is just south of 47th and Troost - it's the middle of the city, and some suburbanites might be turned off by the location - but it's not meant for them anyway. It is housed in a new facility that uses many "Green Building" features, and is surrounded by a garden that showcases the natural ecosystems of Missouri.
