A little more than four years after an outdoor classroom at Wetlands Watchers Park was destroyed by fire, local residents will have a brand new place to learn all about nature and the environment.
On Tuesday, St. Charles Parish held the official ribbon cutting commemorating the completion of a new outdoor classroom at the Norco park named the Dow Discovery Deck.
The space is designed to give residents an opportunity to learn, explore and connect with nature. It is an open, covered pavilion that will provide a dedicated space for Swamp School and a variety of educational programs in partnership with St. Charles Parish’s school system and Parks and Recreation.
The project began construction on October 6. It is now complete and provides a unique, hands-on learning environment for residents and students throughout the parish.
The outdoor classroom was designed by Civil & Sports Design Engineering and constructed by Hammill Construction, LLC. The total cost of the project was $210,000, with $162,000 donated by Dow and remaining funds provided through Coastal Zone Management.
The facility features a covered classroom area with shade structures, safety railings, and a fully accessible ramp, ensuring that individuals of all abilities can utilize the space.
The discovery deck will serve as a hub for environmental and educational programming, including initiatives like Swamp School, which teaches youth about wetland conservation and the role it plays in protecting Louisiana’s coast.
“The classroom adds an educational value to our vast recreation components that we are able to enjoy in the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway such as boating, water skiing, jet skiing, hunting, off road bikes, bird and wildlife viewing, bank and boat fishing, crabbing and camping, and horseback riding, just to name a few,” said Parks and Recreation director Duane Foret.
Foret said the project provides a great example of what can be accomplished through strong partnerships.
“We are especially grateful to Dow for their generous contribution and continued support in helping bring this vision to life. Because of their investment, along with the support from our Coastal Zone Management, we now have a space that will benefit our community for years to come,” Foret said.
Foret said the Dow Discovery Deck allows the department to expand its programming and offer more hands-on learning opportunities.
“What makes this space even more special is that it was designed for everyone. With full accessibility, safety features, and shaded areas, it ensures that all residents can enjoy and learn from this facility,” said Foret. “We’re excited to continue growing our programs and using this space to connect our community with the natural resources that make St. Charles Parish so unique.”
The original classroom was destroyed by a fire in December of 2021 – around, at the time, the 25th anniversary of the LaBranche Wetlands Watchers. The structure survived three major hurricanes prior to the fire.
The hope was that it would ultimately be replaced – Tuesday turned that hope into reality.
