MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Harris Nature Center, located on Van Atta Road in Meridian Township, will soon be home to additional upgrades. Contractors broke ground this week to install the nature center's new pavilion and restroom facilities.

With over forty acres in Meridian Riverfront Park, the nature center is wildly popular in the community. Harris Nature Center set out for these additions two years ago to bring more outdoor opportunities for visitors.

“Having a pavilion instead of an enclosed space is going to be really exciting for us to provide more opportunities in the outside setting instead of inside,” said Park and Land Preservation Superintendent Kati Adams.

Demolition and tree clearing for the outdoor pavilion began on Monday, July 20th.

“We started the process about two years ago, which normally takes some time. COVID-19 certainly did not help us with the timeline. It’s really exciting we are breaking ground today, even if it is just to open up the space where the pavilion is going to be installed. It shows we are making progress,” said Adams.

The pavilion is being funded by a grant received from the Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund and the Township's park millage.

The new restroom building is being funded by a grant from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and Township's park millage.

Exteriors of Lansing is also working alongside the nature center to build a new birding deck. This outdoor project is being funded by the Capitol Region Community Foundation grant and by the Harris Nature Center Foundation.

The nature center re-opened July 7th, and they are off to a running start. Current hours are Tuesday through Friday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm with hopes to extend weekend hours as soon as Labor Day.

Adams asks that the community bear with them in regard to the limited parking while Harris Nature Center transforms into an indoor/outdoor natural sanctuary.