Blair County Conservation District, Blair County
NatureWorks Park is an environmental education park which will ultimately include the Blair County Conservation District’s new office.
This project included the design of a two-phase master plan for a parcel which included rezoning the land to allow for the proposed use. Phase Two is in progress.
Phase 1: NatureWorks Park is located in the floodplain of the Beaverdam Branch of the Juniata River and adjacent to Exceptional Value wetlands. The park design contains accessible walking paths, a man-made wetland with boardwalk, a pavilion for 100 people, a pavilion for 30 people, numerous rain gardens for stormwater management, a unique boulder amphitheater classroom, a pollinator garden, and educational signage.
Project Uniqueness/Challenges:
We have worked with Keller Engineers for structural and civil engineering support on six projects over the past five years and have been very pleased with the results. Our projects tend to be complicated phased renovation/ addition projects calling for creativity in planning and construction. I have been particularity pleased with their responsiveness to issues that arise during construction which is of particular importance to us and our clients. Vern L. McKissick, III, AIA, LEED AP, Owner/Architect McKissick Associates