New Canaan Nature Center outlines capital needs and greenhouse plan
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Summary
Bill Flynn, executive director of the New Canaan Nature Center, told the board the nonprofit's programs (preschool, summer camp, environmental education) account for roughly 65–70% of revenue and previewed capital priorities: education-building classroom reconfiguration (bathroom/code), herb cottage maintenance (≈$100,000), ADA ramp, and a new greenhouse supported by a $200,000 grant.
Bill Flynn, executive director of the New Canaan Nature Center, briefed the board on the center’s programs, finances and planned capital projects.
Flynn said the Nature Center’s revenues last year were "just over $2,300,000" with expenses around $2,250,000; preschool programs alone are roughly half of that revenue and preschool plus summer camp and environmental education make up about 65–70 percent of total program revenue. He said the organization generally runs slightly in the black and reinvests surpluses into the property.
On capital needs, Flynn said the Education Building requires work to convert a large open space into three classrooms but that building-code issues tied to bathroom facilities must be resolved first. He reported the town paid for an assessment and the firm (noted in the presentation as Roth parts) produced plans staff and architects favor; Flynn said the item will appear in the public works budget.
Flynn described several other items: an ADA ramp approved for the Education Building, Herb Cottage maintenance estimated at about $100,000 (with roughly 30% attributable to rotten wood and painting), and a proposed new greenhouse sited next to the Herb Cottage. He said the project team received a $200,000 grant for the greenhouse and that the Nature Center had other funds in hand and was not seeking a town contribution for that element.
Flynn said the Nature Center is using nonchemical invasive-species methods — including goats and solarization — as demonstration projects and highlighted completed town-supported work such as Kiwanis Pond dredging. He invited board members to schedule on-site tours to review the education building, herb cottage and greenhouse location before formal budget requests are filed.
Flynn said the Nature Center will present more detailed cost estimates and timing in the next budget cycle; he emphasized the priority is shoring up classrooms and the herb cottage to preserve preschool and summer camp capacity.