Nature Center Breaks Ground on Treehouse Project
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The Nature Center broke ground on a new treehouse project that has been three years in the planning. The 20 foot by 16 foot treehouse will be built using over 65 yellow pine telephone poles and will take 6-8 weeks to complete. The treehouse design was originally conceived by Alexandria Bennett's grandfather as a way to honor her memory and love of nature. Funding for the treehouse and Nature Center comes through the Spirit of Alexandria Foundation set up in memory of Alexandria by her parents after her death in 2006.
Nature Center Breaks Ground on Treehouse Project
- 1. Nature Center Breaks Ground on Treehouse Project July 9, 2015 It has taken three years of planning, but Alexandria’s Treehouse at the Howell Conference & Nature Center is finally happening. At a groundbreaking held Thursday morning inside Alexandria’s Nature Scape, the project officially got underway to build the 20 foot by 16 foot treehouse. Over 65 yellow pine telephone poles are set for delivery early next week. Overall the treehouse will take about six to eight weeks to complete. Alexandria’s Nature Scape was named for Alexandria Bennett, a little girl who had a love for nature and generous spirit. The treehouse design addition is credited to her grandfather, Jim Bartel who started out with another idea. His original idea was to tie a tree house to existing trees in the forest, but architects warned him that permits would be a problem. Then the issue became finding the right kind of poles that would be safe for children and the environment, Bartel says. Funding for the Nature Scape and the tree house addition are provided through the Spirit of Alexandria Foundation. Alexandria’s parents Leah and Craig set up the foundation as a legacy to their daughter after her death in 2006. The annual Spirit of Alexandria Open will be held at the Wyndgate Course in Rochester Hills on Tuesday, July 28th. For more on Alexandria’s Nature Scape visit www.spiritofalexandria.org. (DS)