Jasper County Conservation Officials are keeping up to date on the construction of the Dana King Ceretti Environmental Education and Nature Center. Jasper County Conservation Director Keri Van Zante says Conservation Board members and staff meet at the construction site every two weeks.

After the groundbreaking in October, the initial construction process had a few setbacks due to rainy, and then freezing and snowy weather. But since then, Van Zante says workers have made good progress.

Concrete work on the foundation has been finished and framing and roofing are expected to start soon. This is the first of three structures that will be built at the site just west of the Jasper County Law Enforcement Center and Jail.

“It’s a three phase project. The first phase is the Nature Center. The next phase is a greenhouse and seed lab area fully funded by the Geisler Penquite Foundation. The last phase will be an outdoor open air classroom, like a big shelter house.”

Van Zante says the Conservation Department will be scheduling public construction tours this spring. She also says they are still looking for donors or business sponsors for several pieces of the building. This includes the solar array, educational displays, classroom/lab stations, landscaping, signage, an elevator, and artwork. More information about donating can be obtained from the Jasper County Conservation Office.