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Our History ~ Our Past |
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In 1987 Susan Sander, the
visionary behind the
development of Riverside
Nature Center, became
intrigued by a 9-acre field
of bluebonnets in downtown
Kerrville and was inspired
to save the property from
development by turning it
into a public wildflower
garden. This property, the
Capt. Scott Whitfield
homestead, was called
Riverside. It was located on
Water Street within a block
of the site where Kerrville
was founded, and was 95%
covered with native plants. |
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The Riverside Nature Center
Association (RNCA) was
organized in 1989. It had
276 members, and Susan
developed an environmental
education program that was
presented in Kerr County
schools by Kerrville Junior
Service Guild members and
others. |
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Purchase of the Scott
Whitfield property could not
be accomplished, so another
site located at the
confluence of Town Creek and
the Guadalupe River, was
purchased in 1992. This site
required extensive clearing
and replanting but it
provided an excellent
opportunity to demonstrate
to the public how an area
can be restored to become a
showcase for native plants
and a habitat for native
wildlife. |
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During the next years: |
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HEB donated and
moved the Lawson
Store, an early
1900s one-room
grocery store to
the site and
donated $22,000
for the store’s
restoration. |
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Texas Forest
Service provided
four grants to
plant an
arboretum of
native trees,
develop
identification
signs and
research
materials, and
provide
educational
programs. |
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Volunteers
planted more
than 100 native
Hill Country
trees. |
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Eagle Scouts
made wood chip
trails and
accomplished
many other
projects. Other
volunteers
constructed the
crushed granite
trails. |
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Kerrville Area
Community Trust
awarded $25,000
toward the
construction of
a covered
pavilion for
classes. |
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A rainwater
collection
system and a
watering system
were developed
by volunteers
and funded by
gifts. |
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The Nature Study
Lab was
constructed with
$25,700 donated
from the Hill
Country Charity
Ball
Association. |
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RNCA leased land
and easements in
a mutually
beneficial
cooperative
agreement with
the City of
Kerrville to
provide river
and creek access
and expand the
Nature Center to
about 5 acres. |
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The Visitor
Center was
completed and
dedicated in
September 1999,
the 10th
anniversary of
RNCA. |
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Many students
and adults have
participated
each year in
educational
programs at the
Nature Center.
These classes
provide a unique
opportunity to
foster awareness
of plants,
animals, ecology
and natural
resources of
Kerr County. |
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Hundreds of
community people
have donated
time, money and
talent to make
Riverside Nature
Center a unique
community
education
project. |
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