Education Center to be Created at Starin Park in Whitewater

According to an update from the City of Whitewater, the Friends of the Arboretum at Starin Park announced on August 2 that they received a grant that will fund the creation of an education center. The center, which will be located at the south end of Starin Park, will be a focal point of the Arboretum, hosting outdoor classroom activities while serving as a welcome center to the trails and greenery. The Arboretum at Starin Park (AASP) is a community initiative to restore the beauty, health, and diversity of the woodlands in the park, enhancing its role as a vital natural sanctuary. Educational programs at AASP aim to connect youth to nature and teach the fundamentals of stewardship and ecology. AASP expects to host their first school groups in spring 2023, featuring Arboretum-specific curriculum and hands-on science activities. Construction for the center will begin in September. Volunteers and some city staff will construct the 14-foot by 18-foot pavilion, which is expected to be completed in October. More information on this story will be provided as it becomes available.