The Clay Center Utility Park and Zoo Welcome Center will host a soft opening on Thursday, December 5th. A grand opening to the public will take place the following Monday, on December 9th.
The Welcome Center will host indoor restrooms, a gift shop, rental space, a full kitchen, and additional amenities to the public. More features, including interactive displays for kids, are being planned by donors, said PUC Superintendent, Scott Glaves.
It is located at the entrance of the walking trails, to the southwest of the zoo. The north side of the building hosts a large patio, which will open up to the proposed splash pad, which is the topic of the PUC’s next round of fundraising. Picnic tables will also adorn the patio for fair-weather picnics and gatherings, Glaves said.
“We raise funds for projects in everything we do,” he said. “Building this welcome center is completed because of all the donations. It’s taken us a long time, then there are just a few things to get us to the finish line.”
The cement floors were sealed earlier this week in anticipation of the opening, while Glaves said the PUC is now just waiting on final touches, such as floor rugs and baby changing tables.
The soft launch is an invite-only event for donors who have cumulatively given more than $1,000 to the PUC. Around 100 invites were sent.
Monday’s grand opening will be open to the public.
