Audubon Nature Center at West Bay

I’ve always said that if you want to change the future, you have to start with today. And, today was such a day.

The News Herald headline was “Paradise Not Lost.” For me today was a down payment on protecting the future of what the NRDC calls a “BioGem” – but since we live here excuse me if I refer it as our BioGem - West Bay.

After many weeks of exploratory discussions and numerous site visits, the National Audubon Society and the St. Joe Company finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) “to study the feasibility of establishing a state-of-the-art, world class nature center to connect people to the West Bay Preservation Area in Bay County.”

This opportunity – for such a center - has its genesis in the relocation of the Panama City-Bay County Airport. The idea of the West Bay Preservation Area – which will eventually preserve more than 40,000 acres of West Bay forever – grew out of dozens of community meetings with committed citizens focused on that objective.

The West Bay Sector Plan is contingent on the relocation of the airport and was enacted by the Bay County Commission in 2003. A principal architect of the plan is Billy Buzett with the St. Joe Company. The plan establishes a long-term vision and land-use plan for approximately 78,000 acres in northwest Bay County. Included in the plan is a provision for the creation of a nature center.

Through the planning process the community developed an unprecedented environmental framework that became the first element in the sector plan. The principles created then were based on the objective of “protecting West Bay forever.” Now years later, these principles are being played out with a proposed nature center. In the future, through this nature center it will play out in the lives of thousands.

In the eyes of John Flicker, President of the National Audubon Society, “Together with St. Joe, we have a tremendous opportunity to create a unique destination that will contribute to the long-term environmental preservation of West Bay and the Northwest Florida region….this project has the potential to provide a unique diversity in nature-based experiences to Bay County residents, tourists to the region, students, researchers and many, many others. We are very excited about the potential to connect people to the West Bay ecosystem.”

Peter Rummell, St. Joe chairman and CEO, described the project in this way. “In working with the National Audubon Society, we have the opportunity to bring outstanding education, restoration, recreation and conservation programs to West Bay. Audubon is world-renowned for its environmental education, advocacy and stewardship. In combining the expertise available in our two organizations, we have the opportunity to create an inspirational place whose impact would be felt for many generations.”

At a press briefing today officials from the Audubon Society and St. Joe said the proposed restoration and nature center site would utilize as much as 7,000 acres on the south shore of West Bay and provide a multi-functional facility designed to promote environmental education, experiences, research and stewardship consistent with the standards and programs established by the National Audubon Society.

Cost of the center is estimated at approximately $15 million. For the critics out there, no tax dollars will be spent on the nature center. Yet this facility could add tremendous value to our community.