The Maplewood Nature Center, nestled in the lower portion of Maplewood Park, has quietly been open to Rochester youth enrolled in R-Camp since July 6. The public will be able to access the facility beginning July 21.
The building, located close to Route 104, was built in 1945 as the Maplewood Training Center and was used for several different purposes over the years.
The center sits within one of the parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and connects to the nearby Genesee Riverway Trail, said Jasmine Chastine, director of R-Camps. Work outside the facility remains ongoing, including revitalization of the nearby pond area.
Chastine said the building’s central area can be opened or closed to separate public spaces from areas used by R-Camp participants. The facility also includes dedicated spaces for nature-based learning.
The newly redesigned Maplewood Nature Center also includes:
The center will be open Monday through Friday for R-Camp and after-school programming this fall. Public access will be available Tuesday through Saturday.
R-Camps are enrolling week to week, check the website to see if there is an opening at the Maplewood Nature Center.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester’s Maplewood Nature Center to open after redesign
Reporting by Tina MacIntyre-Yee, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tina MacIntyre-Yee, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
