Nature & Discovery Center Bill Signed by Wyoming Governor
Left to right: Milward Simpson, director, Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources; Dominic Bravo, administrator, Wyoming Division of State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails; Toddi Darlington, Thermopolis, secretary-treasurer, Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation, and her granddaughter Kaitlynne Johansen, Casper; Toni Casciato, Thermopolis Town Council; Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal; Eric Decker, Big Horn Basin Resource Conservation & Development Council; Beth Drake and Guy Drake, president, Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation.
March 15, 2009 - On Friday, March 13, Governor Dave Freudenthal signed House Bill 239 related to the Wyoming Big Horn Basin Nature & Discovery Center. The bill funds $100,000 for engineering and survey work on the proposed site in Hot Springs State Park. The site is adjacent to Highway 20 north to Worland. The funding is contingent on setting up a joint powers board with Hot Springs County and the Town of Thermopolis as well as drawing up an acceptable lease agreement between the joint powers board and Hot Springs State Park.
The project has been spearheaded by Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation, with support from Hot Springs County and other national, regional, state and local funding. Over the last three years, the Foundation has raised funds for a business plan, architectural renderings, a preliminary economic impact study and support documentation for presentations to the legislature.
House Bill 239 was sponsored by Representatives Lorraine Quarberg (Thermopolis) and Debbie Hammons (Worland), and Senators Hank Coe (Park County), Gerald Geis (So. Big Horn/Hot Springs/SE Park/Washakie) and Ray Peterson (Big Horn/East Park County).
CLICK FOR A FEATURE STORY ON FOLLOWING HOUSE BILL 239
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