Design phase to begin for Fruth, Steyer nature centers

An architectural firm was approved Tuesday by Seneca Parks' board to conduct master plan development for Steyer and Fruth nature centers. The board approved the choice of Garmann/Miller & Associates Inc., of Minster, to develop conceptual plans for Steyer Nature Preserve in Fort Seneca and Fruth Wetland Nature Preserve in Fostoria at the cost of $15,000 for both parks. The firm was selected from among five requests for qualifications after the board's committee interviewed and checked references on similar projects that included nature centers, said Executive Director Sarah Betts. "This one floated to the top because of similar projects," said board member and committee member Bill McAllister. "Everything checked out with them so we met with them." He said one of the firm's partners and a landscape architect toured both parks. Betts said she and Nature Preserves Manager Troy Gibson visited another of the firm's projects at another park system and received positive feedback. For the design phase of the project, Betts said the firm is to develop drawings and site plans with ideas for structures and layout. Because much of the planning work was completed as part of collecting information for the comprehensive plan, she said she hopes the plan will be ready this summer or fall. As part of the county comprehensive plan, Seneca Parks approved the idea of building smaller nature centers for educational programming at several locations within the district rather than one large center. "Instead of putting it all into one basket, we felt we would better serve the community by putting the nature centers closer to them," she said. She said Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve already has a structure and buildings in place and Bowen Nature Preserve has a house that will be used for future programs. So the design of new natures is focused on Steyer and Fruth.