Environment DEC
From the December 2006 issue
DEC Announces Groundbreaking for the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center
DEC Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan recently announced the groundbreaking for the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, an interpretive center that will promote environmental education and stewardship of the environmentally-sensitive Albany Pine Bush Preserve.
Pictured from the left: Chris Haver, Executive Director of the Albany Pine Bush; Andy Beers, Acting State Director of the Nature Conservancy; DEC Commissioner Sheehan; Mary Brizell, Colonie Town Supervisor; Mike Breslin, Albany County Executive; Jack McEneny, NYS Assemblyman and Steve Schassler, DEC Regional Director
Center to Promote Environmental Stewardship
"Under Governor Pataki's leadership, more than 770 acres have been added to expand the Pine Bush Preserve to protect critical habitat for the Karner blue butterfly and other native species, and increase recreational and educational opportunities for residents, students and outdoor enthusiasts. The programs and facilities at the Discovery Center will further build upon these efforts to preserve and manage the Pine Bush while providing substantial public benefit," Commissioner Sheehan said. "The Discovery Center will promote environmental stewardship for people of all ages through interactive exhibits, universally accessible trails, interpretive programs, educational resources, native gardens, and opportunities for involvement with conservation projects."
In 2001, Governor Pataki announced that the State Employees' Federal Credit Union (SEFCU) would relocate its offices on New Karner Road to the state office campus, which would allow the state to develop the Pine Bush Discovery Center with public and private support, including a $1 million donation from Trustco Bank toward the Discovery Center's operating endowment. This year, the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) allocated $2.2 million for capital construction needs to retrofit the former credit union into the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center.
Commission Seeks LEED Certification
The Albany Pine Bush Commission will apply for certification as a green building upon final building commissioning and submission of associated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) documentation. LEED certification is based on energy efficiency for heating, cooling and lighting, the use of recycled and other environmentally friendly materials and indoor environmental quality. Not only is the site being adaptively reused, but the majority of the interior demolition necessary to make way for the Discovery Center's programs has resulted in extensive recycling or reuse of materials. In addition, the 25,000-square foot Discover Center will use wood from sustainably harvested forests, use green label carpets, supplement 50 percent of the electric supply with wind energy, and institute an occupant recycling program, among other green initiatives.
The 3,010-acre Albany Pine Bush Preserve receives nearly 100,000 visitors annually, including more than 3,000 students. The addition of the Discovery Center will enhance the quality of life in the Capital Region by providing a facility where visitors can learn about the unique ecology and rich cultural history of this local natural treasure. The Discovery Center will be centrally located and serve as the main facility for visitor orientation, discovery based programs and trail information, among other services, and is expected to open in 2007.
Protecting a Treasured Pine Barrens Ecosystem
Located within the Capital District and encompassing portions of the towns of Colonie and Guilderland as well as the City of Albany, the Albany Pine Bush represents one of the best remaining examples of an inland pine barrens ecosystem left in the world. This gently rolling sand plain is home to a unique variety of rare plants and animals, including the endangered Karner blue butterfly.
The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission was created by the New York State Legislature in 1988 to protect and manage the unique and endangered natural communities and species of the Albany Pine Bush for ecological, recreational and educational benefits. The commission consists of representatives from DEC, the Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), the City of Albany, Albany County, the towns of Colonie and Guilderland, The Nature Conservancy and four private citizen representatives.
