Nature Gets a New Home

Nature enthusiasts and city officials this weekend will celebrate the grand opening of the long-awaited Stough Canyon Nature Center, which is being called the “crowning jewel” of the local park system.

Located northwest of De Bell Municipal Golf Course, the $2.4-million center contains a 1,200-square-foot exhibit space, two classrooms, an outdoor amphitheater and a small library that officials hope will inspire the public to explore, and in turn, protect the surrounding area.

“You don’t need a building to do nature, but it helps to have a home,” said Carol Stiver Mercado, recreation program coordinator in charge of the nature center. “It brings awareness to the natural environment and how to take care of it.”

The 4,000-square-foot center, which will be open daily except Mondays, has a potpourri of items ranging from stuffed mule deer to an interactive exhibit that poses questions about the four types of local habitat.

Visitors can view a three-dimensional photo of a western tiger swallowtail butterfly or thumb through a Rolodex-type file offering information on native plants, birds, reptiles, mammals and insects. The hands-on experience extends to a “touch table” featuring animal skulls and feathers.

The library collection includes books, videos and artifacts including baskets made by American Indians, and National Geographic magazines dating to 1941.

In addition to offering information about the area, the nature center provides access to the local trail system. Hikers who trek up the nearby fire service road to the top of the ridgeline will find the Rim of the Valley trail, which leads to such places as Tujunga and La Tuna Canyon.

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“This is Burbank’s first nature center, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s the crowning jewel of our park system,” said Janice Bartolo, deputy director of Burbank’s Park, Recreation and Community Services Department. “It will be highly used and very much appreciated. It’s been a long time in coming.”

The center’s construction took about two years, longer than expected because a variety of issues came up, including having to import more soil than anticipated, Bartolo said.

Most of the funds came from two separate Proposition A ballot measures, approved by Los Angeles County voters in 1992 and 1996, with additional money from the city of Burbank’s general fund.

For several months, nearby resident and avid hiker Rebecca McIntire has been driving to the north end of Walnut Avenue to check on the status of the nature center, and she is thrilled that it is finally opening.

“It’s interesting to promote people coming out into the hills and learning about what’s there,” said McIntire, an administrative assistant for the Sierra Club in Los Angeles. “At this time of year, you can hear frogs singing. You don’t have to go back far on the trails to feel like you’re in another world.”

The grand opening will take place Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Stough Canyon Nature Center, 2300 Walnut Ave.

Saturday’s activities will include a live animal presentation, a family hike and bird-watching workshop. Sunday’s activities will include Native American storytelling, a hiking safety workshop and science experiments.

Because parking is limited, a free shuttle will be provided from the Starlight Bowl parking lot off Lockheed View Drive.

Regular hours for the nature center will be Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, call (818) 238-5440.