A new visitor center for the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge officially opened in Kennebunk.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening on May 27 included U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, 1st District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials, and site staff.
The 12,000-square-foot facility will serve as both an educational resource for visitors and central offices for staff and volunteers who manage the 11 refuge properties spread across York and Cumberland counties.
The base for the parcels has been in Wells, but the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge spans more than 6,000 acres, from Kittery to Cape Elizabeth, and hosts close to 300,000 visitors annually.
Rachel Carson (1907-1964) was a marine biologist, conservationist and writer. Her 1962 book “Silent Spring” catalyzed the modern environmental movement. Carson summered in Southport on the midcoast.
The Kennebunk visitor center, christened the Rachel Carson Center for People and Nature, repurposes the former estate of philanthropist Elmina Sewall, built at 188 Brown St. in 1956. The site includes an exhibit hall featuring information about Maine’s endangered and threatened species and the importance of the region’s salt marsh ecosystems.
An environmental education multipurpose room and a nature store will include Carson’s writings and memorabilia.
The 15-acre property sits on the edge of the Mousam River and salt marsh and features a covered foot bridge over wetland habitat and a universally accessible trail to facilitate birding and photography opportunities.
Bill Durkin, president of the Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge told Mainebiz, “The site abuts over 200 acres of existing owned refuge lands, so the new center was a crucial connecting parcel, as it also protects parts of the Mousam River.
Karl Stromayer, who manages the site, commented at the ribbon cutting, “Projects like this don’t happen because of one organization or one leader. They happen because architects, engineers, volunteers, donors, staff, town officials, construction crews, and community members all decide that this space matters.”
Stromayer recognized the town of Kennebunk, Biddeford-based Oak Point Associates, Westbrook’s Benchmark Construction, previous landowners Kate and Paul Nash, the Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, the staff of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, the Maine Ecological Services Field Office and the Gulf of Maine Coastal Program.
