In collaboration with the City of Woodland, and Explorit Science Center, Tuleyome is seeking $3 million in grant funds from California State Parks though the Regional Park Program Grant to construct a Center for Nature, Science, and Culture at the Woodland Regional Park Preserve. This Center is planned to provide the Woodland community and regional visitors with a facility to use for educational programs, community events, and cultural explorations. 

Artist's concept of the planned Center for Nature, Science, and Culture

What would the Center include?

The planned approximately 10,000 square foot Center for Nature, Science and Culture (Center) will include a multi-purpose room, lab, an indoor/outdoor classroom, kitchen, office space, and storage. This Center, which will be located on the Southwest corner of the pond, will offer recreation facilities for environmental education and project-based studies for K-12 students; adult and junior docent training and life-long learning experiences focused on environmental stewardship; and multiple classroom and outdoor educational programs that supplement STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) and Next Generation Science Standards curriculum in schools.

In addition, a new 0.5 mile multi-use trail that will stem from the Center, will merge with the existing 0.3 mile ADA trail that follows the West and North perimeter of the pond. This trail addition will enhance access within the park for walking, jogging, and sightseeing, and will also feature interpretive signs on native plants and ethnobotanical context highlighting the cultural significance and tribal histories.

The construction of the planned Center would be carried out in two phases. If awarded, the California State Parks Grant would cover Phase 1. As shown in the diagram below, this Phase would cover the construction costs to build approximately 6,900 square feet of the Center, for which about 96% would be dedicated to recreation. Although funding for Phase II has not yet been identified, the City and its partners will continue to actively seek funding opportunities for the remaining 3,100 square feet, which would be dedicated to offices, storage, restrooms, and a commercial kitchen.

Artist's Site Plan Concept of the planned Center for Nature, Science, and Culture

How has community input for the Center been collected?

Four community meetings were held via Zoom in October and November 2021, at which time presentations on the planned Center were given by Tuleyome and the City. Community feedback on the kinds of amenities envisioned for the Center were collected by the project partners for consideration. Please see one of the Community Meeting recordings below.