Ponce Inlet, Florida – The Marine Science Center in the County of Volusia is again open, following a renovation project of $ 4.2 million.
The center has been closed for nine months to improve exhibitions, expand education facilities and upgrade equipment.
Additions include:
- The exhibition of artificial reefs John Crisp, presenting the advantages of the artificial reef program of the County of Volusia
- A versatile building of 1,500 square feet
- An exhibition of living shores
- Living reef exposure
- A coral laboratory that will offer research opportunities to high school and college students
- Improvements in the parking area and the main building to improve the traffic flow for visitors
- A quarantine aquarium terrace added to safely introduce new fish into the exhibitions
For visitor Jennifer Radtke, she wanted to take her children to the Marine Science Center for a long time.
“We could not come here because of the renovations and now we visit for three days of Columbus, Ohio and it turns out that it is the opening day today. So, we are so excited! I am especially excited,” said Radtke.
Jennifer Radtke shows her daughter a puff fish at the Marine Center for Marine Sciences in the County of Volusia. (Spectrum News / Devin Martin)
Chad MacFie, director of the Volusia County Marine Science Center, said that the center’s objective is rehabilitation.
During the closure, the staff continued to take care of hundreds of birds and sea turtles.
“We have exceeded our installation. No one for a number of years has imagined since 2002, we have brought more than 26,000 reptiles and more than 19,000 birds,” said MacFie.
Rehabilitation of turtles at the Marine Science Center. (Spectrum News / Devin Martin)
The funding of the renovation came from a Grant Volusia Echo and the American Rescue Plan Act.
“We have improved the flow of visitors, we have improved our staff spaces and we have some major exhibitions,” said MacFie.
For Jennifer Radtke, she is happy that she can experience it with her children.
It is an experience that she will never forget.
“It’s a wonderful little community, it’s time to go out and touch a fish,” said Radtke.
For more information on the Marine Science Center, Visit this link.