FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff’s Community Design and Redevelopment Department announces the completion and dedication of the outdoor classroom at Frances Short Pond Park. The dedication is scheduled for 12 p.m., Oct. 17, 2017.
The classroom is located next to the Veit cabin and both will be used for environmental education. The classroom’s natural setting will help instructors impart knowledge about the Rio de Flag riparian corridor as well as local flora and fauna. Use of the outdoor classroom is free and open to the public on a first come first-served basis.
The classroom’s amphitheater style seating and podium are oriented to take advantage of views of the Peaks. The classroom is constructed from local malpais boulders and planted with native grasses to revegetate the areas disturbed by construction. Sustainability is promoted using locally sourced building materials which contain only small amounts of embedded energy.
The completion of the classroom continues the work begun almost 50 years ago to preserve the pond’s natural history and ensure its availability as open space. Over the years, students have used the pond as an outdoor laboratory, developing and learning from dozens of environmental education projects and experiments in and around the pond.
This Bed, Board and Beverage funded project was designed by the City’s Community Design and Redevelopment staff and built by volunteers from the Flagstaff Rotary Club, with assistance from the City’s Parks Department.
For more information, you can contact Project Administrator, Mark Di Lucido at (928) 213-2964 or mdilucido@flagstaffaz.gov.