Watch for these Coming Attractions when visiting Albany
~
Martha LeSueur Nicholson
Updates
~
We went downtown to view the progress on the Bridge House on Sunday
afternoon, June 1st. The article in the Herald last month (http://www.albanyherald.com/stories/20080413n6.htm), said
the building should be completed by the end of May. Unfortunately there is
still a wire fence surrounding the building with "Hard Hat Area" signs
posted. We walked the perimeter of the fence and from the back of the
building could see through the first floor windows. It contains several
piles of building materials and debris and equipment, so opening day has
obviously been postponed once again. We had to be content with walking
through the Horace King Overlook behind the building and overlooking the
Flint River. It is a replica of a lattice bridge in SC where Horace King, a
freed slave, learned to build bridges. Horace King built the first bridge
over the Flint River and the Bridge Hall, as it was called then. His story
and pictures are posted along the walkway along with the subsequent history
of the building's use as Keenan Auto Parts. We are looking forward to
seeing the restoration of the inside of this historic building when it opens
as Albany's Welcome Center. That will have to wait for another
Sunday afternoon stroll through the park in the future.
As work continues there, the Chehaw Park Authority has put together and
presented to the City Commission an exciting $4 million development plan.
It will include more animal exhibits, an amphitheater, a new entry to the
park, an expanded train ride, and waterfront camping. A group headed by
Albany's Jim Fowler is working to bring a safari type expedition ride
to the park. Perhaps this would be something like the one at Busch Gardens
in Tampa ... a fun ride especially with children along!
Attendance at the wild animal park has nearly doubled in the last 3 years,
and the economic impact on the city in that time has exceeded $10 million.
The final City budget has not been announced as yet, but it looks favorable
that the commission will renew its $1 million financial contribution to
Chehaw for another 5 years to help implement these ambitious plans.
Several new additions and
improvements to existing attractions are planned for this year in Albany
including a new freestanding Welcome Center to replace the one inside the
Chamber of Commerce. It will be located in the Bridge House, one of
Albany's oldest landmarks, next to Turtle Grove park and the RiverQuarium.
The Welcome Center is slated to open in April.
Flint RiverQuarium is adding an
aviary to house more than 100 species of birds found in the Flint River
area. It should be completed by late spring. Check on new exhibits, which
change frequently, here:
Thronateeska Heritage Center
plans a new science-discovery center double the size of the current facility
including a much larger planetarium with updated equipment. It is currently
under construction and will open later this year. Meanwhile there are lots
of interesting things to do at the old railroad station. Check it out here:
Chehaw Park plans a new Meerkat
exhibit and a new aviary for its Birds of Prey exhibit uniquely designed by
Albany's own Jim Fowler. An ice skating rink may also be added during the
winter months. Check out all that's happening at Chehaw here:
Albany Museum of Art
is contemplating a move to the old Holman Mule Barn building if renovations
fall within their budget. That will probably not happen this year, but they
hope to join other cultural attractions in downtown Albany in the near
future. Meanwhile the exhibits are always changing at the current location.
Visit them here:
More information can be found
on all local attractions at the following website:
All information cited above
from The Albany Herald, Outlook 2008, Sunday, February 24, 2008.
Condensation and websites by Martha Nicholson.
NOTE: More
reviews and information will be added as available.
OTHER
ALBANY WEBSITES
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