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The Foundation to have a Discovery Center by late 2002!
      In 1998, the Kelly Land Company made an incredible offer to the Board of Directors of the AHLF.- a piece of land and a building- to become the Foundation's Discovery Center!
      The land is a 2 1/2 acre plot at the eastern end of the inner body of Agua Hedionda Lagoon, adjacent to a 186 acre parcel of wetlands that will become an Ecological Reserve to be managed by the California Department of Fish and Game and to Carlsbad's proposed 300 acre Veterans Memorial Park.
      The building, a 3800 square foot, one story stucco California style structure with red tiled roof, has a large entrance lobby and main hall to be used for nature displays, educational activities and meetings of large groups. A smaller meeting room will serve as the Foundation's board room and will be available for smaller meetings. These rooms have floor to ceiling windows and doors leading to a patio that looks to the west- overlooking the wetlands, lagoon, park and ocean! other areas include offices to be occupied by the California Department of Fish and Game, the Foundation's administration and communications office, separate men's and women's rooms, a kitchenette and utilities room.

Additional photos-click here

The Discovery Center and Carlsbad
      The Discovery Center will be used to promote the environmental protection of Agua Hedionda Lagoon through educational nature programs and will be the starting point for interpretive nature trails leading to the wetlands. The Discovery Center may also become a focal point for environmental and eco-tourism activities in Carlsbad and will provide one of the last great opportunities to link with and study a large wetlands preserve in Southern California. The Foundation is actively developing the educational programs.

Project Financing
      The building has already been moved from another location to the Discovery Center site. Kelly will transfer title to the property when final development permits are obtained for the Kelly Ranch. Their gift includes the building and land, fixtures and furnishings, all valued at one million dollars.
      The Foundation also received a $300,000 grant from the State Coastal Conservancy to cover the balance of the costs necessary to complete the facility.
      Additional funding will be necessary to develop, produce and run the planned educational programs.