By Tuulia Koponen

Staff Writer

In order to create a center that a group of Coppell Independent School District students had expressed an interest for 10 years ago to learn about nature and other science studies, the Biodiversity Education Center at Coppell Nature Park recently opened its doors to the public after years of planning and building.

“The building has been in the works for about 10 years, and we started a fundraising campaign four to five years ago,” Friends of Coppell Nature Park president Bill Sundermann said. “The fundraising campaign came to a head when some of the people that were donating materials basically said ‘Our donations are only good until April 2013 after which prices are going up and cannot be guaranteed after that.’”

Due to not meeting the funds necessary to complete the park, the Friends of Coppell Nature Park turned to the City of Coppell and asked for the remaining funds to be covered by the city. The City of Coppell obliged and construction of the BioDiversity Education Center began April 2013.

“[The Biodiversity Education Center] is considered complete now, however, the Friends of Coppell Nature Park are waiting until Earth Day to have a grand opening,” Sundermann said.

Those who have donated funds to the completion of the center include the Coppell Independent School District as well as North Lake College.

The center also contains a Recognition Wall that will contain the Coppell 300.

“The Coppell 300 are individuals or business that have donated $1,000 or more to the building,” Sundermann said. “The Friends of Coppell Nature Park are still trying to round up to 300 donors, however, we have about 210 or so.”

The Friends of Coppell Nature Park hopes that by the grand opening of the center they will have 300 donors and the Recognition Wall will be complete. The former executive director of the organization has reached out to Amazon and other business in the area to gain the remaining funds.

The usage of the center aside from its usage as an education center to host classes by the Keep Coppell Beautiful organization is still to be determined, however, the Friends of Coppell Nature Park hope the center can be used as a meeting space as well.