Charlene Mauro, Director of the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station (NBMSS) has big plans to expand by creating the Gulf Coast Discovery Center (GCDC) if the Local RESTORE Council (LRC), charged with submitting projects for BP oil spill dollars to the United States Treasury, chooses her project, one of 56 the LRC received. While the project asks for $2,386,800 from RESTORE funds, Mauro brought news to the LRC meeting Monday the CEO of Guy Harvey Enterprises and Dr. Harvey himself are considering including the Guy Harvey brand on the proposed Gulf Coast Discovery Center. Mauro said talks with the Guy Harvey Foundation include $800,000 to enhance the GCDC, but said, “What concerns me if we don’t move forward with the Gulf Coast Discovery Center, that we’re going to lose this opportunity to have a one-of-a-kind facility with the Guy Harvey endorsement in Santa Rosa County.”
The project itself, according to its RESTORE proposal “includes the construction of a 5000 square foot, LEED certified, Marine Interpretive Center (Gulf Coast Discovery Center). The Gulf Coast Discovery Center will showcase the Pensacola Bay Watershed with a specific focus on the Gulf of Mexico and its marine life. It will serve as a gathering place for marine education, sustainable seafood cooking demonstrations and lectures, conservation education and exploration of Navarre Beach through guided and self-guided tours. The proposed Gulf Coast Discovery Center will replace lost recreational opportunities that occurred during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of 2010, through enhanced visitor access to coastal natural resources.”
Mauro said the editor of the Guy Harvey magazine visited the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station, prompted by a recent lionfish rodeo, met the students and volunteers and heard about expansion plans. She said Harvey himself wants more representation in the panhandle. His organization already sponsors fishing rodeos with the NBMSS. Mauro said Harvey will bring not only name recognition but a fundraiser for the GCDC and big music events to the area, if the partnership goes through.
During Monday’s meeting the LRC praised the project and used it as a hypothetical example for how to fund projects, whether to fund in whole or funding initial design with future intent to continue. Shon Owens, representing the Town of Jay on the LRC, said the council shouldn’t overlook the GCDC, scoring third in the tourism category. “Having that sort of facility on the beach will allow for a generation of activities.” The project cost amounts to half of initial RESTORE funds. While Mauro was amenable to working with funding just for plans and initial engineering, she reminded the council the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners “voted for the land in Navarre Beach Marine Park specifically for the Gulf Coast Discovery Center.
Follow this link for Mauro's full talk at the BOCC meeting.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Navarre Science Center may receive big name endorsement (with VIDEO)