Detroit Lakes — The Prairie Woods Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America hosted a ribbon cutting and root beer float celebration on Thursday, Sept. 28, to unveil the new Community Outdoor Classroom at the Lyle Crovisier Memorial Park, located at the Boys and Girls Club of Detroit Lakes.
The centerpiece of the project is a pollinator garden, now open to the public, featuring a walking path where visitors can enjoy native flowers, learn about pollinators, and connect with nature.
Community leaders and project supporters spoke during the celebration, including Jackie Buboltz, Detroit Lakes Chamber President and Park Board member; Amanda Quam, West Central Initiative Grants Administrator; Shanna Rix-Bach of the Pelican River Watershed District; Anna Schmitz, representing the DL Community Foundation and DL Noon Rotary; and Sany Gunderson on behalf of Bill Henke of the Prairie Woods Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America. Master Scout Lance Akers of Troop 674 also offered remarks.
The highlight of the program was the introduction of Eagle Scout Peyton Malecka, who led the classroom project alongside his family and community volunteers.
Guests were treated to a special Monarch butterfly presentation by area volunteer Mari Bell. Children joined the fun by “metamorphosing” into butterflies themselves, wearing colorful wings and fluttering through the crowd to the delight of attendees.
Quoting author Robin Wall Kimmerer, organizers emphasized the importance of outdoor spaces for children and families: “The Community Outdoor Classroom provides young children and their families the opportunity to fall in love with the world as a place of engagement with the living world.”
Sue Sonnenburg, speaking on behalf of the project’s vision, added: “Engaging the entire community is the vision of this urban pollinator oasis.”