River Legacy Living Science Center

Date ant Time:  July 30, 2011  10:00am

Tour Guide:  Anne Alderfer, Master Naturalist

                    River Legacy Living Science Center

The River Legacy Living Science Center was built in 1988 through a partnership between the City of Arlington and a private foundation as an education center and is at the gateway to River Legacy Parks in North Arlington.  River Legacy Park encompasses 400 acres and includes over 16 miles of trails.  The building was designed by Jones Studio and includes various sustainable features.

interior view of Science Center

Some of the sustainable features in the Science Center and grounds include:

• Modular pavers in the parking lot that are porous and shaped to allow air and water to recharge the soil.
• The decking outside of the building is made of a composite of reclaimed plastic and waste wood.  It uses no virgin wood and is 100% recyclable.
• The restroom wall tiles in the building are made from recycled crushed auto windshields.
• Composite lumber used in the building is a mix of wood shavings that come from small diameter trees of second or third growth.  It uses much of the tree that is ordinarily thrown away.
• The carpet uses synthetic fibers and backing that can be continually recycled and reused.
• The building uses a grey water treatment system that reduces waste water to a clear, odorless liquid in 24 hours.  This water is used in the sprinkler system.
• Trees were relocated and parking lots laid out to minimize impact.
• The nature trail has a mulch covered walk to minimize foot traffic impact on native soils.
• Path surfaces were made from granite dust which is normally disposed of in the quarrying process.  This allows more air and water to penetrate the roots.
• Native plants that are less demanding of water and fertilizer were planted.
• Root watering crystals were used.  They retain moisture thereby requiring less watering of plants.

butterfly display in the Science Center

Anne Alderfer gave us an interesting tour on a nature trail that winds along the vicinity of the Science Center.  This part of the park is in ‘bottomland’ as can be seen by the dense vegetation and by the large trees that grow here.  Anne pointed out the effects that our current draught is having on the vegetation and the mechanisms that plants use to cope with this kind of stress.  Also, she pointed out that some plants, like the Asian Privit, is very invasive and is being removed from the park.  

nature walk trail

On a large Cedar Elm Anne pointed out that the sap suckers (woodpeckers) were attracted to this tree because it was sick. She pointed out how you can tell how they leave their markings on the tree in more of a regular pattern on the bark whereas insects would leave more of a random pattern.  Also, she mentioned that the woody material that is left over from downed trees and limbs becomes a great habitat for creatures and also eventually decomposes and recycles back into the forest floor.  The lake by the Science Center has Tilapia fish and there are Bobcats have been spotted in the park.

To control erosion on the banks of the river that is now dry, they have used rocks held by a wire mesh type of material.  This is more of a sustainable alternative than concrete retaining walls.  See picture below.

Following is the web page for the River Legacy Living Science Center:

www.riverlegacy.org